A note to those who submitted work to the upcoming "Fight or Flight" issue: it's not you, it's us. We are simply taking forever to go through all the submissions, and we are really sorry. We are getting closer, and we will be in touch with you soon. Thank you for your continued patience.

Submissions have closed for Issue #7, "Fight or Flight," and we are nestling down with the stacks of stories and CDs and DVDs that have come in from near and far.

In the meantime, take a look at this article in the Utne Reader, in which The Big Ugly Review is determined to be a "great literary journal."

And then check out the NewPages online blog, which calls Kia Simon's film "The Dive" (in this issue) "the most absorbingly gorgeous four minutes you could spend staring at the computer today."

And Howard Junker, editor of the esteemed journal Zyzzyva, writes in his blog that we are "fantastic."

Isn't that nice?

We hope to get back to submitters with responses within six to eight weeks. Thanks for your patience.

As we get close to the Dec. 1 deadline, the music mailbox tends to fill up with large files and your music submission may bounce back with a message saying that the mailbox is full. If this happens, please send your song (or a link to it) directly to biguglyfiction@aol.com. We'll try to empty out the music mailbox regularly so this won't happen, but just in case it does....

Thanks for your patience.

Do you live in the Bay Area? Do you like paper cuts? Do you like working for no money? Then we have the job for you! We have boatloads of submissions to go through in all categories, and are looking for readers to work with the editors to narrow down the field. Flexible hours, done at our office at the SF Writers' Grotto near South Park in San Francisco. Email info@biguglyreview.com if you're interested.

Hello readers,

Planning on sending a submission to The Big Ugly Review? Wonderful. Allow us to make a few suggestions.

1) The theme for Issue #7 is "Fight or Flight." Your work should relate somehow to the idea of fight... flight... or both.

2) This means that it's okay to submit a lovely poem about flight, for example, with no mention at all of bloodshed and mayhem.

3) We are excited by submissions that surprise us. Therefore, feel free to apply the theme loosely and liberally. Interpret it any way you like. This goes for the "And So It Begins" contest as well. As Paula Abdul says, "Make it your own."

4) And finally, don't forget that we want to receive your songs, short films, and photo-essays as well. For complete guidelines, visit the submissions page by clicking on the "Submissions" icon on the top or bottom of any page.

With kind wishes,

Editors

Come cheer for Big Ugly Review contributor Andy Raskin as he defends the reputation of BUR in the second monthly Literary Death Match, sponsored by Opium Magazine.

The show on Tuesday, August 21 will feature readers from Instant City, edifice WRECKED and another magazine TBD, vying for the velvet crown, satin sash and shiny medal of honor. The judges: Oscar Villalon (Book Review Editor, SF Chronicle), Danielle Svetcov (Levine Greenburg Literary Agency) and Rob Baedeker (Kasper Hauser).

It's at Harlot, a swanky club with a subtle name, at 46 Minna Street in San Francisco. For details, check out www.literarydeathmatch.com.

Thanks to everyone who came out to 111 Minna Gallery for the release party of Issue #6. Here is a glimpse of it for those who weren't there, or those who want to relive all the joy.


Andy Raskin regales the crowd with his quest to decode the mysteries of the intestinal tract.


The regaled crowd.


Laura Barcella relates her personal nightmare with an itchy foe.


Wendy VanLandingham came up from LA to share her story, told from the perspective of an under-appreciated doll.

Thanks to 111 Minna for hosting us! We look forward to seeing you all at the next party.

(photos courtesy of Laura Barcella)