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The Peggy Connelly Scholarship honors children’s author Peggy Connelly, a founding member of Writers of Kern, who encouraged and supported new writers. Just as her books encouraged young readers, this scholarship continues her legacy by helping writers of children’s literature.

This year, one scholarship will be awarded for a children’s book author, and one scholarship will be awarded to a general fiction author.

One $500 scholarship* has been established by Writers of Kern to provide financial support to Kern County writers of children’s literature which can be used for materials, education, promotion, publication, or expenses related to a children’s writing project. Children’s writing includes fiction, nonfiction, and verse ranging from board book, picture book, chapter book, middle grade novel and young adult novel. We invite all aspiring and established children’s authors who are members of Writers of Kern to apply.**  

One $500 scholarship* has been established by Writers of Kern to provide financial support to Kern County writers of general fiction literature which can be used for materials, education, promotion, publication or expenses related to the fiction writing project. We invite all aspiring and established authors who are members of Writers of Kern to apply.**

Application requirements are as follows:

Questionnaire

In two (2) pages or less, please answer the following questions:

1. What do you consider your strengths as a children’s or fiction writer?
2. What obstacles do you face as a writer?
3. What goals have you set for yourself as a writer?
4. If you are awarded the grant, how will you use the money to further your writing and achieve these goals? (Be specific: include details and prices)
5. Have you ever received the Peggy Connelly scholarship in the past?

Style Guidelines

Please address each question in a Word document, double-spaced, 12-point font (Arial or Times New Roman), 1-inch margins all around. Submit two (2) copies: copy 1 with identification; copy 2, blind. Judges will read for clarity as well as creativity. Applications that do not comply will not be considered.

Writing Sample

Please submit a sample of your work in progress as described below:

Full text of a picture book (fiction or nonfiction); OR

First five (5) pages of your children’s work-in-progress project; OR

First ten (10) pages of your fiction book.

Writing Sample Guidelines:

Submissions must be correctly formatted in a Word document, double-spaced, 12-point font (Arial or Times New Roman), 1-inch margins all around. Only works in progress that have not been previously published will be considered. Do not send illustrations. Format as a manuscript; do not format as book pages or spreads. Submit two (2) copies: copy 1 with identification; copy 2, blind. Judges will read for clarity as well as creativity. Applications that do not comply will not be considered.

Application Period

The application period is from April 1 – 30, 2026. Applications will not be accepted after 11:59 p.m., April 30, 2026.

*Judges reserve the right to make no award if the number or quality of entries is insufficient.

**Current membership in Writers of Kern is a requirement to apply. You can apply to become a member of Writers of Kern here.

Please email the following documents with the subject line: [Title of Your Manuscript] – PC Children OR [Title of Your Manuscript] – PC General Fiction (depending on which scholarship you are applying for) to: sm@sandymoffett.com 

1. Questionnaire (Identity Copy)
2. Questionnaire (Blind Copy)
3. Writing Sample (Identity Copy)
4. Writing Sample (Blind Copy)

You will receive an email confirming receipt of your application.

All application materials must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, April 30, 2026. Submissions after this time will not be accepted or recognized.

TIPS:

1. Be specific when answering the questions and include how you will use the money to further your writing goals. General answers such as “I plan to attend a workshop” won’t score as high as specific answers such as “I plan to use $400 of the grant money to attend the Highlights middle grade novel writing workshop in June, 2025. The remainder of the money will go towards paying for a substantive edit of my middle grade novel with freelance editor Karla Writewell.”
2. Polish your writing sample and have a friend proofread it prior to submitting.
3. Don’t wait until the last minute to submit.
4. The Fiction Rubric used to judge the Peggy Connelly Scholarship submissions can be found on our Rubrics page.

Please direct any questions to Sandy Moffett at the email above. (Do not wait until the last day to ask questions.)

Winners will be recognized at the WOK Honors Event in May!