Interview with Deb Grohs: Spring 2026 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Deb Grohs is a recently retired computer/database programmer whose lifetime goal is to write at least one novel. She holds a Creative Writing degree from the University of Iowa and enjoyed attending their Summer Writing Festival before it was dismantled.

Since retiring, Deb has been stretching her writing muscle by participating in various writing competitions, among them: Writing Battle (‘Elite Eight’, Autumn 2025; Honorable Mention, Spring 2026); Furious Fiction; Writer’s Playground; The Booby Prize; Not Quite Write; NYCM; TL;DR Word Herd; and, of course, WOW (Honorable Mention, Fall 2025).

She has yet to be struck with a brilliant idea for a novel, but has written a novella which she submitted to the Miami University Press 2026 Novella Contest.

When not writing, Deb enjoys gardening, walking, RV’ing, and spending time with her grandkids.

--interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: Congratulations on placing as a runner up in our Spring 2026 Flash Fiction competition! What prompted you to enter the contest?

Deb: I was drawn to WOW as a community of writers, but more specifically, women writers. I felt it would be a safe, non-judgmental space for a new writer such as myself. For this particular competition, I felt my style of writing and subject matter might be appreciated by the guest judge (Noah Charney).

WOW: Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, “A Murder of Crows?”

Deb: I had run across the story about crows falling from the sky (yes, this really happened! Portland, Oregon, January 2018) and tucked it away for a “someday use” in a story. When I later used an online prompt generator and received the prompts drama(genre) – storyteller(character) – murdering(subject), it just came together.

WOW: We’d love to know more about your writing routines. When and where you usually write? Do you have favorite tools or habits that get you going?

Deb: I typically write in the mornings, in my home office, in the quiet, with a cup of tea close at hand. But when I’m in the middle of a story and away from my computer, I often jot notes to myself on my phone – a sentence fragment, the ‘perfect word’, a title, a plot twist, a character foible.

WOW: Are you working on any writing projects right now? What’s next for you?

Deb: At this point, I’m just moving from one writing competition to the next, honing my writing skills and learning as I go. Next up is Writing Battle Harvest Owl and October’s Elegant Literature contest.

WOW: Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Deb. Before you go, do you have a favorite writing tip or piece of advice you can share?

Deb: I read about this concept years ago (unfortunately I can’t remember who to attribute it to), and it has stuck with me. Imagine an artist – spattered apron, cluttered studio, a painting before him on a large wooden easel. He steps back, studies his work, thumb and forefinger scratching the stubble on his chin. He studies it and studies it, steps from side to side to catch the different angles. Then he steps forward, selects a brush, dips it in red pigment. Then, with a sure hand, he applies a spot of red to the canvas. When questioned as to why, his response will be, “The eye will go there, and they will remember.”

So when I’m writing characters, I try to give them each a spot of red. Maybe the hero bites his fingernails, maybe the villain saves kittens from trees. Give them something to make them just a bit different than expected. The reader will remember.