As a nod to our ten-year anniversary, what better way to celebrate the occasion than to share the journeys of contributors, editors, readers, and interns who are our Expo Family? Within this blog series, folks from our Expo Fam have been invited to share how they got involved with the journal, as well as how it has influenced their work.
We view this series as a time capsule for the impact and growth that has taken place at Exposition Review. We hope these personal reflections can inspire others to read, write, and learn more about what our journal has to offer.
We want to spend this time focusing on Lauren Gorski, a founding editor of Expo. Lauren is currently on the Editorial Board of Exposition Review, and has served as Stage & Screen Editor, Co-Editor-in-Chief, and Comics & Film Editor for the annual issue.
She also writes the Expo Extra, contributes to the Expo Blog, and champions the internship program. When asked how she first became involved with the magazine, she shared that it all began with USC’s university-funded lit journal known as Southern California Review, now discontinued.
“With the end of Southern California Review (and the decades-long MPW program), we were committed to continuing the multi-genre spirit through a new literary journal.”
In spite of one journal ending, a new one was born. Exposition Review carries with it a new identity and has fostered a new, larger community with editors from different backgrounds and locales as well as additional outlets, including a podcast, events, and blog.
Journey
When reflecting on standout moments at Expo, Lauren highlighted several milestones. Vol. VI’s “The Hungry” winning Best of the Net in 2022 was an exciting achievement for both the piece and the publication. Additionally, her experience moderating the AWP panel “How to Write a Play That Will Actually Get Produced” in 2020 was memorable and meaningful, despite taking place in the beginning days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lauren also expressed pride in Expo’s continued efforts to support its contributors:
“It was a big deal when we started paying our contributors $35. Compensating writers and artists is so important to the literary ecosystem, and while doing so as a free, volunteer-run lit journal is especially challenging, we have such an amazing team committed to making it happen. It was even more exciting when we were able to raise that to $50.”
A huge part of that success came from behind-the-scenes work by team members such as Laura Rensing, who served as Expo’s treasurer during that time and helped budget a sustainable plan for contributor payments.
That kind of collaboration reflects the deep personal connections at the heart of Exposition Review. Lauren gives a special shoutout to Laura, one of our current co-Editors-in-Chief, as the editor she has known the longest. The two were roommates when the idea for Expo first took shape, in true Expo fashion, in a dingbat apartment not unlike the ones featured in George Townley’s Escape to L.A. collection.
Expo Impact
Evidence of the impact Expo has had on Lauren can be found in the shelves of books of Expo contributors and editors that line her home. The journal has kept her actively engaged in the creative process through publishing, and the work of reading, editing, and curating has helped her grow as a writer and creator. A big aspect of the journal, however, is collaboration, which Lauren feels is the most important part of anything.
When asked what might be the most challenging aspect, Lauren shared that sometimes it’s just the logistics of driving around busy Los Angeles, as well as wanting to put her all into something that is just one of her many other life commitments. Despite the craziness of L.A., Lauren and our cohort of editors still manage to get together and work to make Exposition Review better every year.
“It’s amazing what you can accomplish with a group of equally passionate and capable people. Also, reading is still fun!”
Her co-editors had a lot to say about her impact on the journey as a whole. A metaphor that is often used is that Lauren is the gardener for Exposition Review. She planted the seeds when her university’s writing program was discontinued. She led the discussion on taking their university’s literary journal into the “indie lit journal space.” Lauren ultimately laid the groundwork for other team members to cultivate their skills and creativity.
At present, she is involved at every level of Expo, managing multiple sections of the journal and the intern program. Like a gardener, she knows how to cultivate editors, contributors, and partners. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Expo and its contributors, and uses that knowledge to allow each member to grow toward the things that draw them the most.
Moving Toward the Future
When asked about how Exposition Review supports emerging writers, it’s no surprise that our internship program and, of course, literary nominations came up. Lauren feels that internships are important because of how they can define your journey in the publishing industry, as they are often a guide of what the potential next step may be.
“I love that our internship offers an opportunity for interns to shape their path, and feel like they have a deep understanding of the POV of the ‘gatekeepers’ and make them feel empowered to move forward with their own literary dreams.”
Additionally, Exposition Review truly gives back to their contributors in submitting nominees for literary prizes such as the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net Anthology. For the future, Lauren would love to get ideas from contributors on what they want to see in publishing. She would also love to see more recognition of contributors and editors by funding free submissions, or stipends for the editorial staff.
Lauren offers a piece of advice to anyone considering being part of the Expo Fam:
“Don’t be afraid to try something new and to submit again. People don’t experiment enough with their work!”
Biography
Lauren Gorski is on the Editorial Board of Exposition Review, and has served as Stage & Screen Editor, Co-Editor-in-Chief, and Comics & Film Editor for the annual issue. She has a Master of Professional Writing from the University of Southern California, with emphasis in Stage & Screen. Her fiction and poetry have been featured in apt, Badlands, Jersey Devil Press, Underground Voices, and elsewhere. Her plays have been performed for The Hollywood Fringe Festival, PlayGround (including Best of Festival), PianoFight’s ShortLived series, NYC’s Spark, and more. She is a two-time playwright-in-residence with PlayGround, a writing incubator for new playwrights. She was also a finalist for Red Bull Theater’s 2023 Short Play Festival in New York City. Her full-length play The Bramford received a premiere presentation May–June 2023 in San Francisco, and was nominated for the Rella Lossy Award.
Alongside her literary work, Lauren works full-time in development and production, with credits on feature films for Walt Disney Studios. She also serves on the National Board of Directors for WYSE (Women and Youth Supporting Each Other), a mentorship program supporting middle school girls.