How soon to start looking for and talking to potential advisors?

[jadoo1989]

I am planning on going for a masters in Spanish or Latin American studies. My research interests are contemporary Latin American film and contemporary Latin American literature. I will be applying for Fall 2014 entry and application deadlines are in February, 2014. I suppose finding a supervisor isn't as important in the humanitie as it is in STEM, where budgets and projects matter a whole lot more. However, all of my schools ask for a statement of purpose/interest in which I identify my research interests and I'm thinking it would be good to show that I know what I want to do in the department and who I want to do it with. At what point should I get the ball rolling on that?

[wanderingalbatross]

Start investigating which programs are strong in your area now. Have a list put together by Fall semester. Send inquiries around September to get a better feel for them, to open a line of communication with potential professors, and maybe use that to narrow your list. Start drafting your personal statement some time over the summer and allow yourself ample time to revise it again and again through the course of the Fall semester as your interests become clearer.

[musicmage09]

Go to conferences in your field and meet with the professors you are interested in working with.

[ShiningInShadows]

I started doing homework in early summer to identify potentials. I based this mostly on papers I read which I found relevant, and looked into the authors working at universities. I started e-mailing in August and most didn't respond until I did a follow up in September.