2026 has already been a year of many ups, downs, and pivots. Exposition Review is not immune, so it’s fitting that for the first time in our ten(!) years of running Flash 405, we’re changing up our deadline dates and taking inspiration from another iconic Los Angeles freeway—the 10! As such, our April contest will be opening April 10 and accepting entries in all genres through May 10.
This round will be judged by Expo Associate Editor Ashley C. Lanuza, who will select up to five winning works that explore the theme “Saudade.” The first and second place winners will receive a cash prize and be published along with any honorable mentions.
Read on to learn more about this month’s contest theme:
– April 2026 Round –
The Judge: Ashley C. Lanuza
Ashley C. Lanuza is a writer, editor, and award-winning spoken word poet. Her poetry has been published by Yellow Arrow Journal, Los Angeles County, and her poetry collection, My Heart of Rice: a Poetic Filipino American Experience, debuted in February 2020. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Los Angeles, and her Master’s degree in Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge. Ashley is currently an associate editor for Exposition Review. She is based in Los Angeles.
The Theme: Saudade
From Ashley:
“Saudade is a Portuguese word best translated as a “profoundly bittersweet nostalgia” for what has happened, what is yet to occur, and what may never transpire. Memories of late night college dorms, a romantic dinner with the spouse you haven’t met, or the friendship you didn’t strike with the stranger on the street. Share work that explores this overwhelming melancholy, make us yearn for the cloying thread of entangled thoughts, write for us to experience saudade…in a flash.”
Before submitting, we encourage you to read the full guidelines; these can be found on our Submittable (link below) or on our Flash 405 contest page, where you can also see past contests and winners.
Please reach out to expositionreviewflash405@gmail.com with any questions.
Good luck!
