New Members
**Please read before requesting access
​

Picture



​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.


​

Members of the group that have been attending for any period of time concur that the 'workshop' process improves their writing. The following illustrates our process


Guidelines 

  
​                                                              Downers Grove Writers Workshop Membership Guidelines
​Participation & Commitment
  • Membership requires basic writing skills and a willingness to 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 or presenting someone else's material is not permitted. Nor should it be a creation of AI or other 'enhanced intelligence'
Reading & Submission Process
  • Volunteering to Read: At the end of each meeting, up to three members sign up to read at the next meeting. Volunteers must be present to participate.
  • Submitting Work: Volunteers upload their selection (2000–3500 words) to the Members-Only Access Page at least a week before the scheduled meeting.
  • Formatting Requirements:
    • Structure for readability: Use 1.5-2.0 line spacing, a minimum 12pt font size, 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 Feedback:
    • 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 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—avoid dramatic inflection that alters interpretation. 
    • Presenters should listen silently and avoid defending their work that should not require explanation other than that 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 to these guidelines.
  • Files remain private—non-members cannot view uploaded submissions.
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.