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Conference Schedule and Program
Conference Program
Click HERE to view 2011 conference program.
This 28-page document includes the conference schedule, class descriptions, faculty biographies and other important information.
Recommended Reading and Viewing Click HERE to access a web page where you can download recommended reading provided by conference faculty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Registration, Payment, and Refunds
When does registration open?
What are the important deadlines I need to know about?
I'm a teacher. Can I pay with a Purchase Order from my school or district office?
I'm a teacher. My school or district office wants to be invoiced for the tuition payment. What do I do?
Are discounts available for conference tuition?
I registered for the conference but am no longer able to attend. Can I get a refund?
I can’t attend the conference for all four days, is there a day rate?
Does my registration payment get me into all of the events?
Do I need to sign up in advance for the daily sessions?
Can I register for the conference online?
How can I confirm my registration was received and processed?
Attending the Conference
I'm from out of town and will attend the conference. Where should I stay?
Where can I park during the conference?
I have a handicapped parking permit/decal. Where can I park?
Will there be book signings?
Will I be able to buy books at the conference?
Can I buy books by featured authors ahead of time?
Is the conference appropriate for teens?
Working at the Conference
Can I volunteer for the conference?
Can I teach for the conference?
Master Classes
Who teaches Master Classes?
I want to be in the same class as my friend, what can you do?
Can I take Master Classes in more than one genre?
When do I submit my writing sample for Master Classes? What are the guidelines?
What do I need to bring to class?
What if I need to cancel my registration for a Master Class?
What if my Master Class is cancelled for some unforeseen reason?
I am only interested in Master Classes, can I pay just for that?
What if Master Classes are full when I try to register?
Can I change classes after I've been assigned a group?
ASU & Tempe Information
Will school be in session during the conference?
What will the weather be like?
Registration, Payment, and Refunds
When does registration open?
Registration for the 2011 Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference is currently open, click HERE to register. The conference will take place March 3-6, 2011 on the ASU Tempe campus.
What are the important deadlines?
All the important deadlines are listed on the registration page of the website.
I'm a teacher. Can I pay with a Purchase Order from my school or district office?
No. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept purchase orders as payment. We understand that this is largely the way school districts operate, and we are sorry for any inconvenience this policy causes. The conference is managed through an ASU Foundation account, and the Foundation does not accept purchase orders as a valid form of payment under any circumstances. We encourage you to talk to your school or district office about an alternative payment arrangement. Ask your school or district office if you can pay with a personal credit card and submit a request for reimbursement, or if they would prefer that the Piper Center for Creative Writing invoice the office for the tuition payment.
I'm a teacher. My school or district office wants to be invoiced for the tuition payment. What do I do?
Please e-mail us at pipercenter.info@asu.edu and request that we fax an invoice to your school or district office. You must provide your name, the name and address of your school, the name of the person who will receive the faxed invoice, as well as the fax number. We will fax an invoice within two business days.
Are discounts available for conference tuition?
Yes, discounts are available for Piper Friends, current ASU faculty, staff and students, ASU MFA alumni, Arizona teachers and Non ASU MFA students. An early registration discount is also available if you register by Oct. 31, 2010. Click HERE to register.
I registered for the conference but am no longer able to attend. Can I get a refund?
Click HERE for the conference refund policy.
I can’t attend the conference for all four days, is there a day rate?
There is no one-day or partial registration option. Just before the conference, individual tickets will be made available for some of the faculty readings (as space allows). All readings are included in the conference registration.
Does my registration payment get me into all of the events?
Your general conference registration payment includes daily conference events and readings. Master Classes are not included in this fee.
Do I need to sign up in advance for the daily sessions?
With the exception of Master Classes, which require pre-registration, you're free to decide what you'd like to attend each day. We will do our best to ensure that there is room for everyone wants to attend each session.
Can I register for the conference online?
Yes. We are pleased to offer our participants the ability to register online. The link to the online registration page is located on the conference website.
How can I confirm my registration was received and processed?
You will receive a confirmation via email after you register.
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Attending the Conference
I'm from out of town and will attend the conference. Where should I stay?
Please see the lodging link on the conference website.
Where can I park during the conference?
ASU Fulton Center Parking Structure is the closest visitor parking for Piper Center for Creative Writing events. Click HERE for more on-campus parking options. If you are staying at nearby hotels, we strongly encourage walking (if possible), using the free hotel shuttles, or free public transit to the campus. If you intend to drive each day, there are several pay-parking options nearby that will enable you to park for the entire day for between $7-10.
*Do not take chances – The City of Tempe and ASU Police/Parking Administration will ticket or tow cars at expired meters as well as cars that have been illegally parked. The Piper Center cannot reimburse guests/participants for parking ticket expenses.
I have a handicapped parking permit/decal. Where can I park?
Public parking is always free for the handicapped at the meters and in the parking lots and garages operated by the City of Tempe. Simply park your car and make sure your handicap sign is clearly visible for parking enforcement. Click HERE for information about disabled parking on the ASU campus.
Will there be book signings?
Yes, book signings will take place after each of the evening readings.
Will I be able to buy books at the conference?
Yes. The ASU Bookstore will pre-order books by all of the authors participating in the conference as conference faculty. These books will be available for purchase on site, each day.
Is the conference appropriate for teens?
High school students register for the conference each year. We usually tell interested parents and teachers that the conference is appropriate for mature high school junior and seniors. Please keep in mind that the conference is being held on a large, active university campus, and that we do not ask any of our conference faculty to adjust their course content for young audiences. That said, we have had several high school students attend in the past, and they were fully engaged in the sessions and inspired to continue with their writing.
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Working at the Conference
Can I volunteer for the Writers Conference?
The Piper Center for Creative Writing employs a great number of volunteers throughout the year. There are only a handful of opportunities to volunteer at the conference, and the positions are competitive. We only wish to work with the most professional and courteous volunteers who will help make our conference a distinctive experience for paid participants and faculty.
If you are interested in volunteering, please submit a cover letter outlining your interest, a resume and three references with phone numbers to: Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing, Assistant Director & Conference Director, PO Box 875002, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-5002.
Can I teach for the Writers Conference?
Our Writers Conference is staffed by accomplished writers and teachers from across the country and beyond. If you would like to be considered for future conferences, please send your inquiry to:
Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing
ATTN: Assistant Director
Arizona State University - Main Campus
Post Office Box 875002
Tempe, AZ 85287-5002
Include: resume or CV; brief bio; and current contact information. Enclose a copy of one of your publications for our review.
Master Classes
Who teaches Master Classes?
Experienced practicing writers, all highly regarded in their respective fields.
I want to be in the same class as my friend, what can you do?
Due to the intimate size of Master Classes and the high demand, we cannot guarantee enrollment in any one particular section.
Can I take Master Classes in more than one genre?
No; all Master Classes are held simultaneously.
When do I submit my writing sample for Master Classes? What are the guidelines?
Your writing sample must be submitted between January 1, 2011 and February 1, 2011. Please click here for more specific manuscript guidelines.
What do I need to bring to class?
Enthusiasm, an open mind, a pen, your classmates’ work and any additional reading assigned by the faculty. You will print out your classmates’ work prior to the conference, read it, and bring it to the conference.
What if I need to cancel my Master Class registration?
Due to the limited availability of the classes, we only offer partial refunds. Click HERE for the conference refund policy.
What if my Master Class class is cancelled for some unforeseen reason?
In the event your class is cancelled for some unforeseen reason, we will notify you immediately and process a refund of your fee.
I am only interested in a Master Class, can I pay just for that?
No. Your conference tuition enables us to offer Master Classes of considerable added value for only a small additional fee.
What if Master Classes are full when I try to register?
The online registration form will not let you register for a class that is full. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, so don't delay. If all classes in your chosen genre are full, we'll add your name to a waiting list in case of cancellations.
Can I change classes after I've been assigned a group?
Master Class registration is for one of the classes in your chosen genre, not for a particular section. No changes are possible after assignments are made.
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ASU Campus & Tempe Information
Will school be in session during the conference?
Yes. The campus will be very busy, please plan your travel and parking accordingly.
What will the weather be like?
Click HERE to view Tempe's weather forecast.
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