Issue 5

Editor’s Note

Dear Reader,

Thank you for stopping by for another issue of FLARE! If you’re new to FLARE, welcome, and if you’ve returned, welcome back! I am always so incredibly honored that so many creators trust me enough and are brave enough to share their best works with me!

With this issue, I had the pleasure of finding new perspectives on disability, mental health, and chronic illnesses, whether that was through form, genre, etc.! I’m always looking for something fresh and including diverse perspectives, and I couldn’t be happier with the result!

I genuinely can’t wait for you to read this issue. If you’re able to, please share through newsletters, social media, word of mouth, and more!

If you’re looking for ways to support FLARE‘s contributors in the future, I’ve got you covered!

Like last year, I have started a GoFundMe for 2026 in hopes that I am able to host more contests that are free to enter, but disabled/marginalized creators get paid. As EIC, I strive to make this a fee-free and free-access platform (but any donations are always appreciated so that I can help others!).

If you’ve followed along FLARE‘s journey, you’ve seen that through gradual donations, I can pay the winners and the 3 runners up in the Strength in Stories Contest and I’ve been able to increase the initial monetary prizes due to donations, which is kind of amazing, since this lit mag hasn’t been around that long and it was the first contest! The contest closes tomorrow, at 11:59 p.m. PST, March 1st, and as such, the 2025 GoFundMe will stay open until that time! So, if you’re feeling extra generous, you can donate to that GoFundMe, and I’ll increase the monetary prizes again!

And as an alternative, remember that FLARE has a merch store, where all art is designed by disabled artist Makena. Any proceeds from that will also be considered “a donation” to help pay disabled creators in the future!

You also probably saw on this page that there’s a little icon with a coffee cup that says, “Support the Volunteer Editor-in-Chief.” That’s my Ko-Fi page, but I just want to note that it is always optional to support (I just include it because some are interested). When it comes down to it though, I love this lit mag with my whole heart, and I am always willing to do what I can to uplift disabled, chronically, neurodiverse, and mental health-related creators and making this lit mag as accessible as possible!

If you haven’t already, but you want to follow FLARE on social media, the handles are (with Instagram being the biggest platform):

Instagram (2,200+ followers): @flarelitmag
Bluesky: (850+ followers): @flarelitmag.bsky.social
Twitter: (350+ followers): @flarelitmag

Well, in any case, I hope you love this issue as much as I loved putting it together. If you’re going through a flare in some capacity, I hope you find peace in the pieces below and know that I am only wishing the best for you. FLARE is always a love letter to all of you. <3

Best,
Kelly Esparza
Editor-in-Chief of FLARE Magazine