FLARE Magazine

Art by Anahita Karthik

Special Mini Issue 3: Medication

Editor’s Note

Dear Reader,

Thank you for stopping by and supporting FLARE just by being here and reading! I probably say this every issue, but seriously, I was blown away by the quality of submissions for this theme! (I say this is a mini issue, but it’s not so mini because the pieces were just that good.)

The idea for this theme stemmed from my own personal experience with having to switch medications, the side effects involved, and then having to start infusions recently for my own chronic illness. Oftentimes, medication, whether it’s for mental health, chronic illness, etc., is a stigma in today’s society, and I hope to change that! I think medication is always okay; if it makes you a better you, then I’m happy for you! In that same vein, of course, there are positives and negatives to medication (as in side effects, how it makes you feel—sometimes better, sometimes worse). Anyone and everyone is always welcome here, and I wanted to start an organic conversation about this topic!

If you’re looking for ways to support FLARE:

  • Read, share on socials (and tag @flarelitmag on IG, Bluesky, and Twitter—get excited!!), and/or spread the word by word of mouth!
  • Donate to our 2026 GoFundMe (we’re off to a great start with $91 already donated for 2026)! All proceeds go toward paying contributors and/or funding more contests where it’s absolutely free to submit, but disabled creators get paid!!
  • Buy from our merch store! All proceeds also go toward contributors in the future, and all designs are created by a disabled artist!

I love FLARE so much and have loved watching it grow so rapidly! I’m the only staff member here, and I’m 100% a volunteer! While it is completely not necessary, I do have a personal Ko-Fi and a poetry chapbook out with Bottlecap Press about my own experiences with chronic illness (just in case you want something else to read in the chronic illness space too)!

Here, at FLARE, I value authentic representation and conversations surrounding chronic illness, disability/neurodivergence, and mental health from people who deal with these. Let’s create a more understanding society!

I sure hope you love this special themed issue just as much as I loved curating it!

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

ALT Text: red background with off yellow circle, three matches, one with a heart flame, one with heart-shaped smoke, FLARE MAGAZINE written (FLARE‘s logo)

Poetry

Microfiction

Flash Fiction

Creative Nonfiction (CNF)

Hybrid/Experimental

Art

Thank you for reading and supporting this latest issue of FLARE!

Author/artist daily spotlights will start on April 19th on our socials. Keep reading and spreading the word about FLARE! Disabled voices are so incredibly important!