I’m writing a short story about Christmas. Not really sure what sort of publishers to send it to but my main question is with something so seasonal, is there a certain time I should send it to publishers?
At least six to nine months for print publishers. It probably should be sent off this month to be published December 2015.
Web markets may require less time. As a datapoint, I sold a St. Patrick’s Day story (out next week in Daily Science Fiction), after sending it off October 23 (and the acceptance was December 7).