🛑 - CLOSED until 2021. ***If you're interested in my critiques, you might want to check out my weekly newsletter for opportunities to get a personalized critique. https://paula.substack.com/p/coming-soon Does your work stand out in an overly-crowded landscape? Does your story & writing shine as far as: ★ - Concept ★ - Voice ★ - Storytelling The Standouts is a fun, but hopefully helpful contest that can give you a sense of whether your story resonates with someone who's got some experience under her belt. Great! But who are you to judge? Fair question. This is not to humble-brag, but I've been critiquing and have worked with story development for quite some time, and I've picked up a lot along the way. ☙ - As an Ambassador, I work on content projects. ☙ - If you look at my profile, you'll see everything I've published so far has managed to standout in one way or another, whether by leading me to become a Wattpad Star; or by winning a Watty (twice!); or by being picked as a Top 10 in major Wattpad contests (twice!); or being featured. All I'm saying is I'm no slouch. I'm not brilliant either. But I've got some experience around what can catch an agent, editor, or judge's eye, and I'd like to share that with the community. ☙ - In another lifetime, I used to work for HBO in Development and at ICM (the talent agency) in their writers' department which means I understand how professionals quickly gauge whether or not they'll take a closer look at a work and/or make an offer. This kind of insight can be helpful if you're planning to submit your work or even just want to stand out more here on Wattpad. ☙ - I used to provide critiques for three writers, all of them traditionally published. They seemed to value my insight. Read the RULES, LOGISTICS & PRIZES chapter for guidelines. All entries get a brief assessment of their first chapter, with winners getting more extensive critiques. Sound interesting? Give it a go! 😊

"You've been helping these girls with their own wedding gowns for years! When will you ever be trying on your own?" Erin's mother shouts from across the bridal shop. Girls of all shapes and sizes turn to see the commotion. An older woman in her forties stands atop one of the pedestals. A young, radiant girl dwindles under her mother's finger. "I've got a lot of things going on," Erin shouts back. Trying to stand her ground against the mother who didn't understand. Erin a 22-year-old entrepreneur is now the owner of the bridal shop her father started at an early age. After losing her father to a heart attack she must figure out how to make ends meet. There are bills to pay, clients to help, renovations to complete. How can any one girl get it done? On top of all these newly bestowed responsibilities; Erin's mother is pestering her. Telling her it's her time to find the perfect husband. Making a deal with the woman, she finds herself with three months to find the perfect husband and a new Tinder account. How could she possibly find the perfect man while running a bridal shop all by herself? Follow Erin as she discovers herself and what she wants while working with some of the finest dresses around. Cover By: @@CAESSIUM

The advice you will find here follows the Chicago Manual of Style which is widely used by American publishers. There are some variances in style from country to country (and even from American publisher to American publisher.) **It may be easier to search the Table of Contents, as there is no rhyme or reason right now to chapter order.**