Lindsay Li

2025 Literary Arts Scholarship Recipient

Lindsay, a writer from Saratoga, California, discovered the transformative power of storytelling through friendship and loss. In fifth grade, she co-wrote a 400-page fantasy novel with her best friend, but their partnership was cut short by her friend’s untimely death. Writing became a way to process grief and preserve their shared world, leading Lindsay to share their work with those who had never known her friend’s creative spark.

This profound loss inspired Lindsay to expand one of their collaborative stories into a 136-page novella titled *Emerald*, which resonated with her classmates and earned her first literary recognition. Through writing, she honored her friend’s memory while forging her own voice, learning that stories can carry both sorrow and healing. The process helped her navigate grief and understand the emotional depth literature can hold.

Now, as she continues to grow as a writer and editor, Lindsay is passionate about uplifting underrepresented voices through her editorial work with *FCSN Voices* and *Polyphony Lit*. With the support of the Anthony Quinn Foundation, she will attend the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio this summer, where she hopes to deepen her craft, connect with fellow writers, and continue exploring the full emotional spectrum of human experience through words.