We are thrilled to announce the winners of our February 2026 Flash 405 contest: “Oops”!
Every round of Flash 405 has a unique theme selected by the judge. In selecting “Oops”, contest judge Heather Vaughan said that “Mistakes happen, and they usually come with a good story”—and she was definitely right, as demonstrated by an amazing pool of contest entries and our selected winners!
Congratulations again to our 1st and 2nd place winners, who received a cash prize, and our honorable mention. All pieces are now available to read:
Judge’s Comments:
“I chose the theme of “OOPS!” shortly after I’d made a huge mistake at work that sent me into a shame spiral. I went out for a drink with a friend that night and asked everyone sitting at the bar (and the bartenders, too) about the biggest mistake they’d made at work. Sitting together in our shared embarrassment and laughter made me feel better.
I wanted to extend the invitation to the broader Exposition Review community. What did they think of when they heard “OOPS!”? The result was a dazzling range of stories, from the dark and brooding to the light and silly. I loved seeing how all of our contributors interpreted what this word meant to them. Their takes cut through the heaviness of what it means for something to have gone wrong.
“OOPS!” is not just fucking up—it’s a detour, a tragedy, a heartfelt moment, a gaggle of monsters, even a catalyst for healing.
I’m so grateful to all of the writers who submitted their words; just like my fellow bargoers that night, your stories—no matter their content—made me feel less alone.
– Heather Vaughan
Congratulations again to our winners!
1st Place:
On Pain by Grace McGovern (Nonfiction)
2nd Place:
Just This Once by Rio Oba (Fiction)
Honorable Mention:
We Wanted to Make History by Jaime Gill (Fiction)
Want to read more? Check out our past Flash 405 contests and winners. Our next contest will open in June.
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Photo by S M