Welcome to the competition that has led to twelve published books and projects set up with Showtime, Laura Dern, Ridley Scott and more.
Director & Producer, RAISED BY WOLVES | THE MARTIAN | GLADIATOR
“Writers are an integral part of my team and without them I would not be able to do my job, so to be able to work with Launch Pad and provide a new and innovative way for them to get their work out in the world is truly exciting.”
Agent, 42 Management & Production
“I’ve so enjoyed taking part in the Launch Pad Competition jury over the last two years. The caliber of talent and wealth of imagination on display is inspiring, and the competition provides the authors with a platform to showcase their incredible work. I look forward to charting each of the nominees’ trajectories!”
Signed with manager and agent
“Launch Pad has been great for me. Through the manuscript competition I was able to sign with a manager, and then through him I signed with literary agent Alexander Field of The Bindery Agency. I have found Launch Pad to be the most professional contest I have ever entered, and would highly recommend them.
With nearly a decade of experience in promoting up-and-coming writers and exciting projects, the Launch Pad Competitions deliver on what our name suggests. We launch careers.
The Launch Pad Prose Competition has led to twelve books published, projects set up at AppleTV, Showtime, and with producers and companies that include Scott Free Productions, Michael De Luca productions, Platform One Media, and Laura Dern’s Jaywalker Pictures.
Manuscript not completed, no problem. Whether you have a ten page short story or a 1,000 page fantasy epic, we want to read it! There’s no need to have a finished manuscript. As long as you have sample pages accompanied by a thorough synopsis, you are welcome to enter! Our readers and judges will review up to 50 pages of every submission, as well as a synopsis for book submissions.
We advocate for all of our Top 100 finalists, working with each of them to develop compelling bios and loglines, and sharing their work with targeted industry professionals. Our prestigious industry juries include managers, agents, producers and executives across top companies in film, television and publishing. Our track record speaks for itself.
Enter now to join this tradition of Launch Pad success.
Emily Hardy
Fineman Entertainment | VP of Creative Affairs
Emily Hardy is VP of Creative Affairs at Fineman Entertainment under EP Ross Fineman, supporting all development and production. Current TV series include BIG SKY (ABC), THE LINCOLN LAWYER (Netflix) and AVALON (ABC) coming soon from David E. Kelley. Emily got her start as an actor and producer before transitioning to development -- she's worn so many hats in Hollywood, she's become a Swiss army knife for storytelling.
John Buderwitz
Amblin Partners | Director of Development
John Buderwitz is Director of Development at Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Pictures, the studio behind such recent hits as WEST SIDE STORY, READY PLAYER ONE, BRIDGE OF SPIES and the JURASSIC WORLD series, in addition to television projects like ROSWELL NEW MEXICO (CW), HALO (Paramount+) and RESIDENT ALIEN (SyFy).
Kim Yau
Echo Lake Entertainment | Manager
Kim Yau began her career in Hollywood in 2011 working at the Cheng Caplan Company. In 2015, she transitioned to Paradigm Talent Agency as a Media Rights Agent, handling the sale of film/TV rights for intellectual property including books, comics, graphic novels, articles, podcasts, blogs, and life rights. Kim continues to specialize in intellectual property at Echo Lake and is particularly passionate about supporting and advocating for diverse voices and creators.
Paula Munier
Talcott Notch Literary Agency | Agent
Paula Munier is a literary agent and the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Mercy Carr mysteries. She joined Talcott Notch Literary Services in 2012 as Senior Agent and Content Strategist and is looking for good crime fiction, women’s fiction, mainstream fiction, high-concept YA and SF/Fantasy fiction, as well as nonfiction.
Ryan Wilson
Anonymous Content | Manager, Media Rights
Ryan Wilson is a manager at Anonymous Content, specializing in Media Rights. Anonymous Content is a prolific management and production company behind such high-profile films as Best Picture winner SPOTLIGHT, as well as recent projects like SWAN SONG, OUTLAW KING and BOY ERASED. On the television side, they have produced series such as DICKINSON (Apple TV+), MR. ROBOT (FX) and HOMECOMING (Amazon).
Sarah Gerton
Curtis Brown Ltd. | Agent
Sarah Gerton is an agent at Curtis Brown, Ltd., building a list of fiction and narrative nonfiction for middle grade and young adult readers. While fantasy is her first love, she’s eager to read YA and MG fiction of all genres, gravitating toward character-driven stories with unforgettable settings. She graduated from Wesleyan University and the Columbia Publishing Course.
Sophie Kaplan
3000 Pictures | Director of Development
Sophie Kaplan is Director of Development at 3000 Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures behind upcoming film adaptations of bestselling novels like Kazuo Ishiguro’s KLARA AND THE SUN, Delia Owens’ WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Kristin Hannah’s THE NIGHTINGALE starring Elle and Dakota Fanning. Sophie was previously VP of Development at StoryBy Entertainment.
Tessa Shaffer
Corvisiero Literary Agency | Literary Manager
Tessa Shaffer is a Literary Manager for screenwriters at Corvisiero Literary Agency and she also represents a small, select, number of authors in genres from Middle Grade to Non-fiction. She's on the lookout for writers who excel at both novels and scripts, and has a passion for book-to-screen adaptations.
Tyler Vendetti
iTV Studios America | Manager, Development
Tyler is a Manager of Development at ITV Studios America, ITV Studios’ LA-based independent scripted television operation. Previously, she served as a WPA on a number of productions including SWAMP THING for DC Universe and DEAD TO ME for Netflix. She holds a B.A. in English and Film & New Media from Wheaton College (Massachusetts) and is an alum of the NBCUniversal Page Program.
Amanda Jain
Bookends Literary | Agent
Amanda began her career in publishing at W. W. Norton, where she spent seven years before pursuing a masters degree in history of the decorative arts. She rejoined publishing shortly thereafter at Inklings Literary Agency. Amanda currently reps adult romance, mystery, upmarket fiction, and science fiction & fantasy, with a special emphasis on historical fiction in all genres.
Isabella Mastrodicasa
Never Settle Media | Founder, Manager
Isabella is an LA-based manager and producer. She started her career at Verve Talent & Literary Agency in the Motion Picture department and worked at The Kennedy Marshall Company. After a few years working in management at Heroes and Villains Entertainment and launching their digital department, she founded Never Settle Media in 2022 with the purpose of nurturing digital content creators and international filmmakers in the entertainment industry.
Our readers will consider up to 50 double-spaced pages (25 single-spaced). Double-spaced entries are preferred but not required.
If you have a completed manuscript or story that exceeds 50 pages, feel free to submit the entire project. For submissions longer than 50 pages, the first 50 pages will be read, but the submitted sample pages DO NOT need to be from the beginning of the book. Entrants are welcome to submit sample pages from any part of the book.
For book projects (or short stories that exceed the 50 page limit), a synopsis of the full project is required and should be submitted as a separate document at check-out.
One grand prize will be awarded each to a book and short story submission. Prior to the winners announcement, books and short stories will be considered in the same pool for advancement.
We are committed to helping writers take meaningful steps in their career, and there is nothing more important in developing your craft than thorough, in-depth notes from a trusted source. We are proud to offer our Feedback Notes program, providing 1-2 pages of in-depth notes on your competition entry, with insight into the story, characters, writing and commercial potential showcased in the first 50 pages and synopsis of your project.
Enter with FeedbackAccepting short stories, novels and manuscripts.
Everything the Top 10 receive, plus…
Everything the Top 50 receive, plus…
Everything the Top 100 receive, plus…
With producer Shirley Davis
Shirley Davis is a seasoned film and television production executive, producer, and educator. Shirley is currently a Vice President, Production at Disney Branded Television, which supplies content for the Disney Channel and Disney+. Shirley continues to develop features, series and docuseries with her producing partner under their shingle, Rose Colored Pictures.
She has consulted at Imagine Entertainment, where she was a Co-Producer on Wu-Tang Clan, Season 1 and at Netflix, in Original Films. Previously, Shirley was the EVP and Head of Physical Production at Alcon Entertainment, where she was a production executive on projects such as BLADE RUNNER: 2049, PRISONERS and DOLPHIN TALE 1 and 2.
Shirley is a member of the PGA, the DGA, a former board member of Outfest, and was an Adjunct Professor at the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC Film School and UCLA Film School’s Master Program.
Requires Add On in Checkout
Scott Thomas’s Launch Pad Manuscript Top 10 novel KILL CREEK was selected by the American Library Association’s reader committee as the top horror book of 2017 and was set up as series at Showtime with Scott Derrickson attached.
Juliet McDaniel’s first novel MR. & MRS. AMERICAN PIE was the Top Comedy in the Launch Pad Manuscript Competition. The book is currently in development as a TV series for Apple TV, Platform One Media and Laura Dern’s Jaywalker Pictures.
Joe Cooke's Launch Pad Prose Competition Top 50 novel caught the attention of manager John Beach of Gravity Squared Entertainment who signed him for representation.
Launch Pad Prose Competition Top 100 Finalist Allison Mick signed with a literary manager through the competition.
Requires Add On in Checkout
The best way to learn is by working with experienced writers who have already navigated that path to success. That is exactly what the Launch Pad exclusive mentorship opportunity is set up to do.
Juliet McDaniel’s first novel MR. & MRS. AMERICAN PIE was the Top Comedy in the Launch Pad Manuscript Competition. The book is currently in development as a TV series for Apple TV and Laura Dern’s Jaywalker Pictures. The series which received a 10-episode order will star Kristen Wiig.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Katy Regnery has a heart for smart romance featuring strong women and decent men. Almost exclusively self-published, Katy claims authorship of 50 titles, including three RITA® finalists: The Vixen and the Vet, Unloved: a love story, and Catching Irish. Currently translated into French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Turkish, Katy has sold over 2 million books worldwide.
Nicole Evelina is a USA Today bestselling author and biographer who writes historical fiction, non-fiction, and women’s fiction. Her six books have won more than 40 awards, including four Book of the Year designations. Nicole was named Missouri’s Top Independent Author by Library Journal and Biblioboard as the winner of the Missouri Indie Author Project in 2018 and has been awarded the North Street Book Prize and the Sarton Women’s Book Award. One of her novels, Madame Presidentess, was previously optioned for film.
The winners will be chosen based on the following criteria: (i) The originality and commerciality of the premise; (ii) The skill and artistry of the writing in serving that premise and crafting an engaging piece of work; (iii) The effectiveness of the plot and structure in the first fifty pages in serving that premise and engaging the reader; (iv) In the case of a longer submission, the ability of the provided synopsis to articulate a compelling and sustainable path forward for the story; (v) The originality, believability and emotional investment in the characters and their impact on the overarching story and themes; (vi) Where, applicable, the use of dialogue to advance the character, story and entertainment value of the project.
Initial reads will be completed by professional industry readers, assessing the first fifty pages of each submission. After this point, our internal team of readers will read all promising submissions to allow for extensive internal discussions over the relative merits and weaknesses of each project. Through internal conferences, we narrow down a list of 100 finalists. At this point, writers may be asked to submit supplemental information (a brief bio, a more thorough synopsis of their work) to assist in the decision making process.
Further rounds of internal reading and discussion, as well as consultations with any add-on prize partners, narrow the finalists down to 10, at which point our panel of industry judges read each project and provide feedback which determines our winners.
Any entrant may be deemed ineligible at the sole discretion of Launch Pad. We reserve the right to amend these rules at any time.