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.

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.

This year, we are thrilled to have 2 Guaranteed Signing Partners!

Lee Stobby Entertainment was founded by producer and literary manager Lee Stobby, who has over 10 years of management and producing experience. The company’s clients include Shay Hatten (JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3, JOHN WICK 4, ARMY OF THE DEAD, ARMY OF THIEVES), Kate Trefry (made the Black List in 2013 (PURE O) and 2016 (REVOLVER) who has an overall deal at Netflix and currently writes on STRANGER THINGS), and Isaac Adamson (#1 Black List script BUBBLES). Stobby’s producing credits include SISTER AIMEE, which premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival; WILDLING starring Bel Powley, Liv Tyler and Brad Dourif and premiered at SXSW; as well as development set up with Matt Reeves’ 6th and Idaho, Universal, and Netflix.

Grace Ledding is a literary manager and producer at Agile Entertainment. She got her start as an agent trainee at the William Morris Agency and then became a Creative Executive at foreign sales-based, film finance company, InterMedia, where she worked on BREACH, HUNTING PARTY, and Oliver Stone’s ALEXANDER among others. She then became Vice President at Paramount Pictures-based production company, Cerenzie-Peters, before launching her own management and production company ten years ago. Grace is currently an Executive Producer on Netflix’ animated series, HELLO NINJA!, which just launched Season 4, and developing a premium limited series at 20th Television with Bold Films, BARBIE & RUTH, based on Robin Gerber’s biography of Mattel founder, Ruth Handler.

Requires Add-On or Top 10 placement

As the Executive Vice President of Production & Acquisitions for Meyers Media Group, Randy Dannenberg has worked on projects such as 4 MINUTE MILE, starring Richard Jenkins and Kim Basinger. He previously worked at Media 8 Entertainment for over 8 years as VP of Production and Acquisitions. During his time there he worked on production projects MONSTER (Charlize Theron’s Academy-Award winning performance), UPSIDE OF ANGER (Kevin Costner and Joan Allen), RUNNING SCARED (Paul Walker) and MAN ABOUT TOWN (Ben Affleck). Prior to Media 8 Randy worked for Handprint Entertainment’s film division developing projects for the company and their clients who included Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Williams and Julia Stiles.

Requires Add-On or Top 10 placement

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 the projects 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.

1. All entries MUST BE submitted in English as a PDF document with standard margin sizing.
2. Initial reading will be limited to the fifty (twenty five if single spaced) page sample of each submission and a synopsis of up to 1,000 words. Submissions must be consecutive pages of your project.
3. Full book manuscript submissions are not required, but are welcomed and may be considered in later rounds.
4. Short stories should be submitted individually and not as part of a collection. If a collection is submitted, only the first story will be considered.
5. Submissions with multiple writers are allowed. However, all entry fees must be paid under one account and all prizes will be shared among writing partners.
6. All submissions must be the sole property of the writer(s). Any submissions of existing literary figures and or stories not in the public domain, as well as any intellectual property that the writer does not own, will be disqualified.
7. All entries will be read blind, with no identifying information shared with readers. The writer name(s) and any other contact information should only appear on the title page and nowhere else in the submission.
8. Work with a prior option is allowed, but at the time of submission and for the duration of the contest, the work must remain exclusively the writer’s property.
9. Work that has been previously published is eligible so long as the writer retains further publication and adaptation rights.
10. The only projects not allowed to be entered are those which have already sold, have previously earned our “LP Recommends” honors, or received a top 50 placement in a previous Launch Pad competition.
11. Launch Pad uses Coverfly to manage our submissions and reads. Updated drafts accepted through the Coverfly website only.
12. Launch Pad and all judges/readers will utilize whatever criteria they deem appropriate in deciding a winner.
13. All submissions will remain the property of the writer(s) throughout the contest (at no point will anyone from the judging panel or Launch Pad ever attach themselves to your work without your consent).
14. Entrants may be contacted as a result of the contest by Launch Pad, the judging panel or other industry professionals in regards to representation, production, sale and/or option of the entered work.
15. Entrants are under no obligation to sell their work or otherwise attach themselves to representation in any form – this includes the guaranteed option and guaranteed signing add-ons.
16. General prose entries will not receive feedback, however, you can opt to upgrade and receive feedback on your submission. Reminder: feedback will only be provided on the first 50 pages and synopsis of your project.
17. The contest is open to entrants 18 or older. It is an international contest and open to entrants worldwide.
18. Launch Pad reserves the right, at our sole discretion, to change or modify these terms at any time without notice.
19. By entering this competition, you agree to receive periodic emails from Launch Pad and The Tracking Board. You may unsubscribe to these at any time.
20. All entrants understand and agree to allow Launch Pad to post details on their project (title, writer name(s), logline, genre and competition details) as well as the writer (biography, picture) to their site, or sister site, to help promote the entrants’ work.
21. By entering the competition, entrants are acknowledging their eligibility for the competition. The vast majority of entrants enter in good faith, and validating everyone at the entry stage would be inefficient and take away from efforts reading and finding the best projects. Therefore, we check eligibility at the Top 100 Finalist stage, which allows us to confirm eligibility prior to winner selection. If an issue comes to our attention earlier, we will address eligibility issues in earlier rounds on a case-by-case basis.
22. All purchases and submissions are final. No refunds will be issued.
23. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
24. Except where prohibited by law, participation in the contest constitutes each entrant’s consent to Launch Pad and its agents’ and contest sponsor’s use of entrants’ names, likenesses, photographs, and/or personal information for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration. All uses of an entrants’ information are in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
25. You agree to release and hold harmless Launch Pad, its subsidiary, parent and affiliated companies, prize contributors, judges, readers, sponsors and any other organizations responsible for administering, advertising or promoting the competition, and every one of their respective members, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) past and present from and against any and all claims, expenses and liability, including but not limited to damages and negligence to property and persons, including but not limited to invasion of privacy, defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, copyright, infringement of trademark or other intellectual property rights relating to a participant’s entry, participation in the competition and/or acceptance or use or misuse of prize; provided however, that such release will not apply to any commercial exploitation of the script by a Released Party in violation of your rights under applicable copyright law; and (c) indemnify, defend and hold harmless Launch Pad and its sponsors, agents and employees from and against any and all claims, expenses and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys fees) relating to an entrant’s participation in the competition and/or entrant’s use or misuse of Prize.