Francesca Sagala holds her award from Writers Digest

This senior English major from New Buffalo, Mich., can now put published, critically-acclaimed author on her resume.

Writer's Digest magazine selected one of Francesca’s short stories for an honorable mention in the children's/young adult fiction category of its 77th annual writing competition this winter. Out of more than 17,000 manuscripts submitted, Francesca’s short story "Waiting for David" is cited in an annual anthology of Writer's Digest competition winners.

Francesca’s short story, "Waiting for David," is about a 16-year-old girl who falls in love with an older boy and becomes depressed when he never calls—until she receives reassurance from an unlikely source. The idea stems from Francesca’s own unfortunate experience. She says, "I took the feelings that I had from that experience and created a story about it.”

Sitting on the literary selection team for The Lighter, Valparaiso’s student literary magazine, Francesca considers a career in professional writing. But writing for children and teens is her long-time passion. “Something about that age of learning and growing up really inspires me," she says.

Francesca wrote "Waiting for David" during a creative writing workshop taught by Dr. Edward Byrne, professor of English and editor of Valparaiso Poetry Review. She shares her success openly, saying "Professor Byrne and the students in my group gave me lots of feedback on my story, so I definitely have to thank them for their help.”

Francesca Sagala is just one Valparaiso student who’s good at living.