Interview with Sophie Berghouse, M.D., 3rd Place Winner in the WOW! Q1 2026 Essay Contest

 

Sophie was raised in the Midwest and spent the first three decades of her life there. She attended medical school, completed her residency and fellowship, and felt pleased her life was comfortably mapped out. Then life introduced a plot twist: a permanent move to Germany due to her husband's job. Just as she began to find a new rhythm within the different language and culture, Sophie faced another plot twist she never saw coming: her third child was born with severe disabilities. When Sophie grows up, she wants to write a novel about traveling Europe with a wheelchair and four kids in tow. For now, she will focus on short stories detailing her (mis)adventures in parenting, special needs, and most importantly, living. She hopes her experiences can support and encourage other women and mothers facing unexpected life changes. She is not a big fan of socials but grudgingly accepts that they are here to stay. The only social link she has is on Substack: @sophieberghouse, where she has a mightily underwhelming number of followers. 

 ----------Interview with Renee Roberson 

WOW: Hi Sophie. Welcome, and congratulations on your win. Your powerful essay, "Lingchi," is a testament to a mother's love and the reality of parenting a child with severe disabilities. How did you first get the idea to structure the piece around the concept of an ancient Chinese torture method? 

Sophie: When we first found out about the disability, I felt like my world had imploded in a single instant. It was torturous. Fast forward a decade, and I often forget about my daughter’s differences; this is our normal. But as soon as we step outside, I am reminded by peoples’ glances. And I don’t blame them. We are different, and it’s natural to look for the outlier. Yet, the ‘othering’ does affect me—not to the extent of the initial diagnosis, but just small cuts that add up over time. I am really drawn to the hermit-crab form of writing ever since I took a WoW class last summer. It offers a pre-defined structure which is helpful for the emerging writer. It’s the antidote to not knowing where to begin. Plus, it allows for creativity for the writer and the reader. The writer, because there is a starting point that can now be filled however you want to tell your story. And the reader, because they want to figure out how it all ties together. 

WOW: There are so many ways to be creative with a hermit crab essay. This was an excellent structure for your piece. How did "Lingchi" evolve from the first spark of an idea to the completed draft you submitted to the contest? 

Sophie: This was one of those essays where everything came together. I had read about that for other writers but always reacted silently with a dubious “yeah, right.” But that’s exactly how it worked this time. Things just ‘clicked’ and it was start to finish in two or three days. On a metaphorical level, I have been writing this essay for a decade. Maybe that’s why it just poured out once I had found the correct structure. 

WOW: Sounds like it was meant to be, and I love hearing stories like this where everything falls into place on the page. Parenting is a universal topic that many of us can relate to in our writing. What are some of the related subtopics you've explored on the page? 

Sophie: I think there is a dearth of authentic perspectives on what motherhood means. The narrative continues that its either communing with angels or ha-ha crazy. And of course there are those moments, but there is a range of other emotions that never get dissected: frustration, anger, jealousy, confusion. Those don’t seem to fit into the definition of motherhood and therefore don’t get written about. Another subtopic I try to shine light on is special needs parenting. It’s a subset of the population who has experienced it and even less who are writers. Yet, it’s a topic that touches us all. I think readers would be very interested to see what diagnosis day feels like, what the daily struggles are, etc. Parenting teens is also mostly a black box. I am trying to delve into that too. 

WOW: You are correct--there is such a wide spectrum on what experience and explore as mothers. I appreciate you shedding light on special needs parenting with this essay and your Substack. What advice would you give to writers planning to explore emotionally-heavy topics in their own creative nonfiction? 

Sophie: The danger in emotionally-heavy topics is to veer towards melodrama because—I don’t know— anything outside of the shiny-happy narrative must be its opposite? But after the initial shock of the inciting incident, I think people adjust, at least in some form. And describing that re-adjustment, that learning, is where the authenticity lies. I don’t think people want to read “woe unto me, I’m the victim.” But everyone is wildly interested in “I felt like a victim but now know I’m not.” There is still so much beauty to be found in many situations, even though it may not look like it to the casual observer. And shining a light on that beauty, that’s what makes emotionally-heavy topics so fascinating to the public.

WOW: That's such a thoughtful perspective, and a great way to describe what makes a compelling piece of creative nonfiction. Let's switch to something a little different. Originally being from the Midwest, how have you adjusted to life abroad in Germany? 

Sophie: The first couple of years were confusing, but there is an American-International women’s group here that has events and helps close the cultural gap. I am glad to be here now and rarely run into any more surprises. Pro-tip: apartments do not come with kitchens—we found out the hard way with a newborn, two toddlers and a first grader.

WOW: Oh, my goodness, that bit about kitchens could be its own essay! Sophie, we're so glad we got to learn more about your life and writing process, and look forward to reading more in the future. 

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