New Members
**Please read and agree to the Guidlines before requesting Membership access
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​The Downers Grove Writers' Workshop meets at the Downers Grove Library at 1050 Curtiss Street, Downers Grove, in the north meeting room on the first floor on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7:00PM.


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Guidelines 

  
​Participation & Commitment
  • Membership requires basic writing skills and a willingness to hear critique and workshop material for publication.
  • Attend meetings regularly, even when not sharing work, to contribute to critiques.
  • If you miss six consecutive meetings, you must attend two meetings before submitting your own work again.
  • Only original work may be presented, plagiarism, works created by AI or presenting someone else's material is not permitted. Nor should it be a creation of other 'enhanced intelligence.'
  • The group is open to any persons over the age of 18.
Reading & Submission Process
  • Volunteering to Read: At the end of each meeting, up to three members sign up to read at the next meeting, and three more are added to the queue for the following meeting. Members must be present to volunteer.
  • Submitting Work: Volunteers upload their selection (2000–3500 words) to the Members-Only Access Page at least a week before the scheduled meeting.
  • Formatting Preferences:
    • Structure for readability: Use 1.5-2.0 line spacing, 12pt font size, and upload in docx format and number pages for reference.
    • Include a header: Clearly indicate whether the submission is Chapter 1, poem, short story, etc.
    • Context introduction (optional): A brief paragraph outlining the genre, topic, or placement within an ongoing work.
    • Content warnings: If necessary, note any gore, violence, or explicit content at the top of the first page.​
Critique Process & Etiquette
  • Preparing for Meetings:
    • Print and thoughtfully critique submissions before meetings.
    • Bring specific questions about your work (e.g., character development, clarity).
    • Read your piece aloud before submitting to catch errors or improve flow.
  • During Meetings:
    • Writers read their work (uninterrupted) aloud, followed by group critique.
    • Members provide verbal and written feedback (no interruptions or side conversations allowed).
    • Critiques should be constructive and balanced (use the "critique sandwich" approach).
    • Do not perform your reading and avoid dramatic inflection that alters interpretation. 
    • Presenters should listen silently and avoid defending their work. It should not require explanation other than that which is provided in the header.
Community & Sharing
  • Members are encouraged to share writing opportunities, workshops, publishing tips, and helpful resources.
  • Access to the Members-Only Access Page is granted to all attendees who agree and comply with the Guidelines.
  • Files remain private and non-members cannot view uploaded submissions. For reasons of privacy and content ownership, recording meetings is prohibited.
Giving & Receiving Feedback
  • Be specific—general comments don’t help writers improve.
  • Stay focused—keep critiques relevant to the work.
  • Respect fellow writers—criticism should target the work, not the individual.
  • Be gracious—acknowledge the effort involved in critiquing.
  • Keep feedback balanced—highlight strengths alongside areas for improvement.
  • Avoid rewriting for others—help refine the work rather than dictating changes.​
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​Writers' Submission Policy for Workshop
We encourage creativity and the development of individual writing skills in our workshop. To maintain this focus, we do not accept submissions that are generated by AI. While we recognize the potential of AI tools, our primary aim is to foster the growth of our participants' writing skills rather than their ability to craft AI prompts. Keep in mind AI generated content cannot legally be copywritten and since agents sell rights AI generated content can’t be sold.
Submission Evaluation
We may utilize Scribbr, a respected AI detection tool employed by major schools and universities, to assess the likelihood that submitted work was created by AI. Although no detection system is infallible, submissions that generate a likelihood of over 75% being AI-generated will be declined for critique. You will receive a private notification via email if your submission falls into this category.
Rationale for Allowing Up to 75%
The 75% threshold acknowledges the limitations of AI detection tools, providing a reasonable allowance for potential inaccuracies. This means that if a piece of writing is flagged as having over 75% likelihood that it was generated by AI, it is likely that work was not solely created by the writer.
Definition of "Written by AI"
For clarity, "written by AI" encompasses, but is not limited to:
  • Works entirely generated by AI with minimal human input.
  • Content that has been heavily influenced or shaped by AI, such as stories generated from a simple prompts or outlines.
The results of Scribber and the Downers Grove Writers Workshop admins will have the final say in determining eligibility for workshop submissions.
By adhering to this policy, we aim to foster a supportive environment that prioritizes genuine creative expression. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.