Do I have to be an ASU student to take these workshops?
Absolutely not! These classes were created for everyone in the community. Although the Piper Center for Creative Writing is on the ASU Tempe Campus, community outreach is important to us. There are no pre-requisites for taking these courses.
Can I get ASU credit for taking these workshops?
No. These writing workshops are purely non-academic and have no connection to ASU. For-credit classes are taught by ASU’s stellar Creative Writing faculty in the Department of English. We recommend current ASU students or anyone seeking credit take these courses.
Can I get Continuing Education credit for taking a workshop?
Yes, you can. The Piper Center for Creative Writing will provide you with a letter stating the number of chair hours you have completed in the workshops. These letters generally provide sufficient documentation for employers seeking confirmation of continuing education credit.
Can I teach for the Piper Writer’s Studio?
We are always looking for qualified teachers to lead Piper Writer’s Studio Workshops. Please read our guidelines here for more information.
Please send your inquiry to
Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing
ATTN: Staffing
Arizona State University - Main Campus
Post Office Box 875002
Tempe, AZ 85287-5002
Include: resume or CV; brief bio; short proposal of intended participation and current contact information. Enclose a copy of one of your publications for our review. Please be patient as we receive a large number of interested parties each week. Our system does not allow for individual responses at this time.
What’s the difference between Intensive Classes and Beginning Classes?
Intensive classes are limited to 8 students and generally require students to have substantial work already complete in the genre of instruction prior to the start of the workshop. Intensive Instructors may also indicate a particular topic of instruction (such as character development or point of view) to focus on during their course.
Beginning classes are appropriate for writers who are new to a genre or who have little experience writing or workshopping their writing. These courses are also limited to 16 students and will be designed to give new writers the tools to really focus on developing their skills in the genre.
Where do the classes meet?
We strive to staff and hold classes throughout the Valley. Currently, we almost always offer classes at the following locations:
Piper Writers House on the ASU Tempe Campus
Downtown Phoenix
South Scottsdale
North Scottsdale
We are interested in expanding this program into the Glendale area to better serve our writers in the West Valley.
How long do the classes meet?
Most classes meet for 8 weeks. Classes are scheduled for two hours each week, on a single night or weekend afternoon depending on the course.
We also offer 1-day courses as well. 1-day courses meet for 4 hours on a single day and explore a topic in depth.
We offer two 8-week workshop sessions in Fall and Spring and one 8-week session during the summer.
Can I request a refund?
We can provide a full refund of your Piper Writer’s Studio Workshop tuition, minus a $50 handling fee, any time before the second workshop meeting. After the second workshop meeting, we cannot offer a refund because we cannot resell that seat in the class.
How do I register for a Piper Writer’s Studio Workshop?
You can download a registration form from the Piper Writer’s Studio Workshop website. For expedited registration, you can fax your form to us with your credit card information; otherwise, we also accept registrations through the U.S. Mail.
Because we require participants to sign our refund policy, we cannot take Piper Writer’s Studio Workshop registrations over the phone.
When is new information about the Piper Writer’s Studio Workshops available on the website?
We generally have our workshops planned and organized two months before they begin.
If you want to receive notices when new workshops are scheduled, please fill out our online contact form by clicking here.
How you do maintain workshop quality control?
We ask all students to fill out a comprehensive evaluation of their workshop at the end of their 8-week term. We take these evaluations very seriously and use them to make future hiring decisions.
We take special pride in the distinctive quality of this program. If your workshop does not meet your needs for any reason, please contact the Piper Center for Creative Writing to discuss your experience.
