Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · 18d

My story "Brief Lives of Garden Insects" was published this month by Flash the Court - thank you to Court Harler and to @megpokrass.bsky.social for her wonderful workshops! flashthecourt.com/2025/09/12/b...

“Brief Lives of Garden Insects” by Frances Gapper

In “Brief Lives of Garden Insects” by Frances Gapper, bugs are sexy. And fascinating. From “The Dreadfuls” to the “Best in Show,” these miniature, pesky creatures flash in to and out of their own l…

flashthecourt.com

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · 19d

Many thanks to @lumchanmfa.bsky.social for her kind comments on my story - and the exclamation marks!! expositionreview.com/flash-405/wh...

Whoosh! - Exposition Review

by Frances Gapper Honorable Mention – Flash 405, June 2025: “Illumination” Fiction Arthur says: ‘You use too many exclamation marks.’ He has a scholar’s melancholy and often groans aloud. Putting my...

expositionreview.com

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Reposted by Frances Gapper

Dan Crawley @danbillyc.bsky.social · 19d

"‘What sort of books do you like?’ I ask. He replies: ‘We’re not readers, we’re characters in someone else’s plot.’"

I love this brilliant story by @francesgapper.bsky.social in @expositionreview.bsky.social 💙💙💙
expositionreview.com/flash-405/wh...

Whoosh! - Exposition Review

by Frances Gapper Honorable Mention – Flash 405, June 2025: “Illumination” Fiction Arthur says: ‘You use too many exclamation marks.’ He has a scholar’s melancholy and often groans aloud. Putting my...

expositionreview.com

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · 19d

Thank you so much, Dan!

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Reposted by Frances Gapper

Ian Johnson @youcanandyouwill.bsky.social · 22d

It's witty, it's clever, AND it features Scarborough. What more do you want?

Trash Cat Lit @trashcatlit.bsky.social · 22d

Second hero is from @francesgapper.bsky.social 🦝
We loved the pace of this cleverly structured piece, the superb characterisation and of course, a Trash Eagle - elevated.
Very unexpected use of prompts: Building Remodel, Unlikely Hero, Firearm

Read here: trashcatlit.com/into-stones-...

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · 19d

Thanks so much, Ian!

Reposted by Frances Gapper

Exposition Review @expositionreview.bsky.social · 19d

Our June contest “Illumination” was a bright spot for Flash 405, with @lumchanmfa.bsky.social as our guest judge.
Congratulations to our winners: @pintsncupcakes.bsky.social, Meg Taylor, @francesgapper.bsky.social, Alice Hatcher, Liana Meffert! Read their flash here: tinyurl.com/Illumination405.

Flash 405, June 2025: “Illumination" Winners - Exposition Review

Our June contest “Illumination” was a bright spot for Flash 405, with the brilliant Melissa Llanes Brownlee as our guest judge. With a record number of submissions, we are pleased to finally share our...

tinyurl.com

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · 20d

"People say we live in an unequal society; some are born well-lit, others are living like moles." Fabulous work from @jupiterjonz.bsky.social

Trash Cat Lit @trashcatlit.bsky.social · 20d

First spotlight of the day from our latest issue 🦝
We loved @jupiterjonz.bsky.social imaginative take on a hoarder and the delicious rebelliousness of the two MCs. Feels both tech-modern and beautifully period.
From prompts: The Future, Hoarder, Tickets

Read here: trashcatlit.com/daylight-sav...

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Reposted by Frances Gapper

MaireadWrites @maireadwrites.bsky.social · 22d

"Act 1. Anton Chekhov beak-raps the glass roof of Dad’s passion project / our house and shits on it. “We should never have adopted that seagull,” says Helena, my stepmother.

Was there ever a more intriguing opening?? Fizzing with wonderful, is this. Congratulations @francesgapper.bsky.social

Trash Cat Lit @trashcatlit.bsky.social · 22d

Second hero is from @francesgapper.bsky.social 🦝
We loved the pace of this cleverly structured piece, the superb characterisation and of course, a Trash Eagle - elevated.
Very unexpected use of prompts: Building Remodel, Unlikely Hero, Firearm

Read here: trashcatlit.com/into-stones-...

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · 22d

superb characterisation *cough*

Trash Cat Lit @trashcatlit.bsky.social · 22d

Second hero is from @francesgapper.bsky.social 🦝
We loved the pace of this cleverly structured piece, the superb characterisation and of course, a Trash Eagle - elevated.
Very unexpected use of prompts: Building Remodel, Unlikely Hero, Firearm

Read here: trashcatlit.com/into-stones-...

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · 22d

Thank you so much for the repost and kind words, Mairead!

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · 24d

Great flash, Mairead. I love the entomologist!

Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · 25d

life in the midst of death - wonderful!

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · 26d

"I wasn’t lost in the woods, but I was lost." 💙

Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · 26d

What a ghost!

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · 27d

Love the small flower at the tendril's end and the unhinged honey badger!

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · 28d

Brilliant comic writing!

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · 28d

Idea, feeling and language meld so well in this amazing piece!

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · Sep 5

Really beautiful! I love the reading.

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · Sep 5

Thank you so much, Ian!

Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · Sep 4

Although working with different sets of prompts, I see we both included the word 'goatee' 🙂 Love "squirreled winter fuel allowance" and "These days, any self-inflicted pop meant a lengthy reloading" 😄

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · Sep 4

Wonderful title, Karen - and what riches inside the basket!

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · Sep 4

The entomologist is fab! And "cicadas’ empty exoskeletons, fleas immobilised on glass slides, impossibly patterned lepidoptera with open, vulnerable wings" - ooh!

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · Sep 4

A beautiful story, Clodagh. I love the thumb-sized drone!

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Frances Gapper @francesgapper.bsky.social · Sep 4

Beautiful work, Leigh!

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