Your Novel Year® at the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University is the only online Certificate Program in the country for those looking to write Young Adult novels.
The Certificate Program combines intensive workshopping under the guidance of award-winning instructors with one-on-one mentorship with world-class authors. The goal is to provide you a structured environment in which you can write your novel in twelve months.
The program is a unique combination of six workshop courses and two periods of one-on-one mentorship designed to take you from the first words you write to the final manuscript. You’ll start with a writing intensive course and then travel through a series of three workshops in which you’ll share drafts of chapters with the small cohort of talented students in the program. Along the way, you’ll have two opportunities to work one-on-one with accomplished authors. Finally, after you earn your certificate, you may continue to take additional courses in revision and publishing designed to get you ready to submit your manuscript to agents or editors. As a program alumnus, you’ll enjoy access to benefits including a Piper-mediated query letter exchange with an agent and the option to purchase a full manuscript review by an established author.
Admission to this program is competitive, and it is by application only. We offer all our students close, individualized attention, and the opportunity to work in small cohorts of 10-14 students so that you’ll find a strong sense of connection with others who are involved in the same creative endeavor.
Please note that Your Novel Year will not be accepting applications for 2018.
Because the program is online, you’ll be able to take classes from the comfort of your home, whenever it’s most convenient for you. Still, there are plenty of opportunities for connection, both online and in person. Instructors hold office hours via Google Hangout sessions during all classes. At the annual Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference, for which all Your Novel Year students receive a $200 discount, you will have the opportunity to meet with your peers and instructors to attend special, program-only sessions.
By writing on a daily basis and following the steps of the program, at the end of twelve months you will have completed, or be well on your way to finishing, a book-length manuscript, with 6 months of revision and publishing elective coursework available to you when you are ready to polish and prepare your book for publication. It’s all up to you. Just know that your instructors and fellow cohort members will be cheering you on along the way, and you’ll be part of a strong alumni community of writers, with continuing opportunities for support, mentorship, and further classes and workshops.
Finally, after you earn your certificate, you may continue to take additional courses in revision and publishing designed to get you ready to submit your manuscript to agents or editors. As a program alumnus, you’ll enjoy access to benefits including a Piper-mediated query letter exchange with an agent and the option to purchase a full manuscript review by an established author.
Awards
Desert Nights, Rising Stars Conference
All enrolled students will receive scholarships for the Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference in both 2017 and 2018, which will allow you to register for the conferences for $200 each time (regular registration is $400.)
Writing the Novel 1 Scholarship Award
The top two applicants each year will be awarded their second certificate class (Writing the Novel 1) for free – a value of $995.