Greg Roensch is a Defiant Scribe writer who specializes in flash fiction. Make no mistake, flash fiction is a delicate art: being able to get a story across, to say everything you need to say in as few words as possible, is one hell of a challenge. But it’s something Greg excels at. His flash pieces are exactly the kind of bite-sized reads we crave: punchy and to the point, yet never skimping on quality, they always manage to paint a picture and stay in our heads far longer than they took to read. It’s a unique talent, a tricky balancing act that few can pull off, but Greg makes it look easy. And, like all the best flash fiction pieces, his work always leaves us wanting more.

Greg was gracious enough to answer some of our questions about writing, reading, Defiant Scribe, et al. Here’s what he had to say. 

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Defiant Scribe: When did you start writing and why? And what was the first creative piece you wrote? 

Greg Roensch: I first realized I could be a writer when my seventh-grade English teacher accused me of plagiarism. She didn’t believe I could write such an excellent book report. That got me thinking I could be a writer.  

DS: Favorite book and/or author? 

GR: Impossible question to answer, but I’ve been reading a lot of Joyce Carol Oates recently, so I’ll go with her. Blonde is one of my favorite books.  

DS: Do you have a favorite storytelling medium (e.g., novel, short story, film, TV show, et cetera)? If you do, what is it and why is it your favorite? 

GR: I gravitate toward flash fiction because I like the challenge of writing a full story in a short amount of space. And I can’t think of a better compliment than when someone says they got a sense for a character or place in a story I’ve told in fewer than 1,000 words.   

DS: If someone asked you to name one person or thing that has influenced/inspired you the most, what—or who—would that be? 

GR: My thesis advisor in graduate school was George Tuma, a professor of medieval literature, a dog lover who brought his wire-haired dachshunds to class, and a master do-it-yourself housebuilder. We spent countless hours talking about literature, philosophy, politics, and more while working on his house. He was a major influence.   

DS: If you could jump into any book and live within its world for a while, which book would you pick and why? 

GR: Another tough one, but I’ll go with Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72. Hanging out with the godfather of gonzo journalism would be memorable on many levels. But mostly I’d want to plead with him to hang around a while longer to provide his one-of-a-kind take on our country’s current political shitshow.      

DS: Of the stories you’ve written for Defiant Scribe, which are you proudest of and why?  

GR: You mean which one of my babies do I love the most? Okay, I’ll go with Christmas Ghosts. It’s not autobiographical (well, maybe a little bit), but it’s the most personal of my Defiant Scribe stories. 

DS: What sucks the most about being a writer? 

GR: Finding a typo in a story after proofing it a gazillion times! Typos suck!

DS: What’s the hardest writing challenge you’ve faced?

GR: Self-motivation is something I’ve struggled with at times. Once I have a deadline and a direction, I’m usually good to go. 

DS: What’s one piece of writing advice that you’d give to your younger self?  

GR: Quit thinking about it and do it. 

DS: What is your favorite Defiant Scribe edition?

GR: I’m a fan of horror stories, so I’ll go with any of the Halloween editions. 

DS: Where else can people find you and/or your work? 

GR: You can find out more about me at www.gregroensch.com. You can also read more of my flash fiction by picking up my book Breakfast with the Alien and Other Short, Short Stories from Amazon or other online booksellers. Just don’t let me know if you find any typos.