We are delighted to kick off another round of Flash 405 with a new prompt, “Tacky,” chosen by our own Kes Nave!
Kes started her journey with Exposition Review as a participant in our annual “Share Your Voice!” publishing workshop and a contributor to our “Wonder” issue with her first published poem “Justice Favors Fortune.” Then she was an intern on our “Act/Break” issue and an associate editor on “Hunger” and “Flux.” And for our upcoming issue, “Lines,” Kes is serving as Stage & Screen Editor.
Submissions will open on February 4, 2023, via Submittable. Before submitting, we encourage you to check out the full prompt below. You can also see further guidelines and see past contest winners by visiting our Flash 405 page.
– February 2023 Round –
The Judge: Kes Nave
Kes Nave is the Stage & Screen Editor for Exposition Review. She graduated from the University of La Verne with a BA in creative writing. Her poetry has been published in Exposition Review, and her short film Sane Men is set to premiere at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival.
The Theme: Tacky
From Kes:
“Gaudy, cheap, over-indulgent, and altogether too much. We flinch away from those things, embarrassed and protective of our “good” taste, or we hide our enjoyment behind a shield of irony.
Write a love letter to kitsch. Tell me about the ugliest thing your grandmother owned. Create tasteless characters. And disavow the “guilty” part of pleasure.”
Ready to start writing? Please reach out to expositionreview@gmail.com with any questions.
Good luck!
– Submissions open February 4–March 5, 2023 –
Photo credit: Annie Spratt