To push the envelope is to test a limit—to go a little farther than feels safe. For writers, this means risk. It means doubt. It means vulnerability. It means taking the leap to follow a path that perhaps only you can see.
This year at Desert Nights, Rising Stars, we ask a simple, difficult question: how do you push the envelope of your work—and find the courage to take the risks that will deepen it? In a generous, attentive community of writers, we’ll share lessons learned, examine risks of craft and content, and support one another as we listen for the heart of our stories.
Our 2026 keynote speaker is the visionary, genre-bending, bestselling novelist Stephen Graham Jones, author of The Buffalo Hunter Hunter.
Click here to learn more and register starting Jun. 1
Virginia Piper is currently offering writers, educators, and MFA students the opportunity to present panels or lead workshops at the conference.
You can apply through the following opportunities:
- Community Writers – Writers may apply to teach a workshop (free conference registration) or present a panel as part of a group of 2–5 (discounted $50 registration)
- MFA Presents – MFA students may apply in groups of 2–5 to present a panel (discounted $50 registration)
- Conference Teaching Fellowship – Experienced writers and educators may apply to lead a workshop (free conference registration)
Application link: https://piper.asu.edu/hostaconferencesession
Deadline: May 15
