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Welcome to the competition that has led to more than a dozen published books and projects set up with Showtime, Laura Dern, Ridley Scott and more.

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Launching Careers

Accepting submissions for everything from short stories, to fantasy epics – we’re looking for the next great voices in fiction writing.

Featuring a jury designed to set you up for success – including vetted industry professionals from well known agencies and publishers like Nelson Literary Agency, Veritas Literary Agency, Sugar23 and more.

Plus exclusive partnerships and mentorship opportunities including a VIP Producing Partnership with Scott Glassgold, Guaranteed Development opportunities and a Mentorship program. We aim to provide our writers with as many avenues towards success as possible.

Key Dates

Deadline

Mar 20, 2024
Late
Apr 20, 2024
Final

Announcements

Jul 26, 2024
Top 100
Aug 16, 2024
Top 50
Sep 13, 2024
Top 10
Oct 4, 2024
Winner
Jun 28, 2024
Second Rounder

Meet the Jury

Amanda Marshall

Independent | Producer

Amanda Marshall is producer who develops and produces independent films with up-and-coming filmmakers. Notable recent credits include Mike Birbiglia’s DON’T THINK TWICE; A24’s SWISS ARMY MAN, starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe, for which she was nominated for a Spirit Award for Best First Feature; UNTITLED AMAZING JONATHAN DOCUMENTARY which premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by Hulu. She also executive produced Marielle Heller’s Spirit Award-winning THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL. Most recently she produced the Film Independent lab project THE TIME CASPULE and GOD’S COUNTRY, starring Thandiwe Newton, which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, where Marshall was the recipient of the Amazon/Sundance Institute Producers Award. She is currently in post on the independent television show UNCONVENTIONAL created by Kit Williamson, as well as an Executive Producer on the documentary SPLIT BY THE ROOT which premiered at SXSW. Marshall was previously President of production at Cold Iron Pictures and has been a mentor for the Sundance Institute and Film Independent. She is a member of the PGA and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and an At-Large member on the Executive Committee for the Producers Union.

Audrey Knox

Cartel | Literary Manager

Audrey Knox is a literary manager at Cartel, with clients in film and television, among whom are writers staffed on REASONABLE DOUBT and SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE and writing for Disney, Netflix, Nickelodeon, and Hallmark. She is Associate Producer of the Tubi feature film CRUSHED, written by her client Heidi Lux. Her client Alanna Francis' feature ALICE, DARLING starring Anna Kendrick was released theatrically to critical acclaim in 2022, and her client Tessa Scott is a writer on the SINGLE BLACK FEMALE movies for Lifetime. Audrey worked her way up from Receptionist in 2016 to Manager in 2018.

Erick Mendoza

Grandview | Literary Manager

LA-based management firm Grandview has promoted Erick Mendoza to manager. Mendoza first joined the company as an assistant in 2018, and before that he was at UTA. His roster of writer clients include Alex Russell (FX’s Dave); Josh Levine (Hulu’s Pen15); Rebecca Hoobler (Fox’s Duncanville); Walter Thompson-Hernández, author of The Compton Cowboys: The New Generation Of Cowboys In America’s Urban Heartland and host of LAist Studios’ California Love podcast; Colin Liddle (Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels) and Paola Villegas Soruco (Stumptown).

Joanna MacKenzie

Nelson Literary Agency | Agent

Joanna MacKenzie is an agent with Nelson Literary Agency where she represents authors writing for both the adult and children’s markets across all areas of fiction. She is drawn to vivid, engaging writing and is particularly interested in high concept thrillers (with a soft spot for speculative and anything that challenges tropes) , voicey mysteries, dark academia, stories that straddle genres, and women’s fiction where the personal intersects with the world at large - if any of these are set in the Midwest, all the better. Across the board, she’s looking for works that highlight under-represented voices. Her authors are New York Times bestsellers, Edgar and Anthony Award nominees, and critically acclaimed storytellers.

Katrina Escudero

Sugar23 | Media Rights Manager

Katrina Escudero's work experience includes various roles in the media industry. Katrina is currently employed as a Media Rights Manager at Sugar23 since February 2021. Prior to that, they worked at United Talent Agency as a Media Rights Agent from December 2015 to February 2021. Before joining United Talent Agency, Katrina worked at ICM Partners, where they held multiple roles including Media Rights Coordinator, Head of the Story Department, Agent Trainee, and Assistant to Media Rights Agent.

Melissa Azizi

Sparkwood Films | Producer

For a decade, Melissa Azizi worked closely with Gail Mutrux to help produce NEWS OF THE WORLD (starring Tom Hanks), the Academy-Award winning THE DANISH GIRL, the Golden-Globe winning SHOW ME A HERO (for HBO) and iBOY (UK’s first Netflix Original). She has a knack for finding great IP, having sourced the Mick Herron SLOW HORSES crime book-series for the company which currently airs on Apple TV+ and stars Gary Oldman, as well as sourced LIFE IN A FISHBOWL by Len Vlahos for Amazon. Melissa is a Sundance Producers Lab finalist and in 2019, Melissa co-founded Australia’s first screenwriting fellowship, IN DREAMS – designed to connect two unrepresented Australian screenwriters with Hollywood industry. Before this, Melissa produced short films in Australia that have screened in over 100 film festivals worldwide.

Michael Carr

Veritas Literary Agency | Agent

Michael Carr is a literary agent with a background in editing and writing, working from a home base in San Francisco. He represents writers in a variety of genres, with a special emphasis on historical fiction, women’s fiction, mystery and suspense, and science fiction and fantasy. Michael works carefully with clients to produce the cleanest, most professional manuscripts and enjoys teaching at workshops and conferences to help develop emerging writers. He speaks Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian, and before joining Veritas had professions as diverse as programming simulators for nuclear submarines and owning an inn in Vermont.

Steven Adams

Alta Global Media | Manager/Producer

Award winning Manager/Producer Steven Adams is a Founding Partner at Alta Global Media where he represents international media companies and talent. Adams is a producer on the Netflix Original adaptation of Roger Guenveur Smith’s solo performance piece RODNEY KING and the Peabody Award winning A HUEY P NEWTON STORY for Starz, both directed by Academy Award winner Spike Lee. Adams recently collaborated on the marketing of 2 seasons Spike Lee’s hit series Netflix SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT, and the Academy Award winning BLACKKKLANSMAN.

Steven Salpeter

Assemble Media | President of Literary/IP Development

Steven Salpeter is the President of Literary/IP Development at Assemble Media. As a production and IP creation company, Assemble Media is currently in development on projects with studios and producing partners including MGM, Netflix, Universal, Sony, Bad Robot, John Davis, Berlanti, Lionsgate TV, HBO, Escape Artists, and Apatow Productions, among others.

Tessa Shaffer

Corvisiero Literary Agency | Literary Manager

Tessa Shaffer is the Vice President of CLA, representing screenwriters for the Film & TV side as well as a small, select number of authors in various genres from Middle Grade to Non-Fiction. She has a passion for finding cinematic books, developing adaptations, and bridging the two industries for the clients of Corvisiero Literary Agency. ​

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.

Industry Trusted

“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.”

Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott

Director & Producer, NAPOLEON | THE MARTIAN | GLADIATOR

“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!”

Emily MacDonald

Emily MacDonald

Agent, 42 Management & Production

“The numbers speak for themselves. Beyond the massive amount of writers who have landed reps from Launch Pad, no other has led to more sales and bidding wars in existence. And beyond that, the success isn’t just here, but these scripts have landed on every major end of year list. This place starts careers!”

Brooklyn Weaver

Brooklyn Weaver

Manager/Producer, Energy Entertainment

The Benefits of Feedback

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 Feedback

Accepting short stories, novels and manuscripts.

Prizes With Results

2 Grand Prize Winners (Best Book & Best Short Story)

Everything the Top 10 receive, plus…

Top 10

Everything the Top 50 receive, plus…

  • Showcased individually to a curated list of agents, managers, executives, and producers to fit your unique writing brand and overall career goals.
  • Your work will be read, reviewed and voted on by each of our esteemed Judges.
  • One free entry to any future Launch Pad Competition of your choosing.

Top 50

Everything the Top 100 receive, plus…

  • One year free membership to the Tracking Board.

Top 100

  • Your project and writer profile will be shared and marketed to our extensive industry network.

Writer Testimonials

Here's how our competitions and industry connections have helped Launch Pad writers take their careers to the next level, in their own words.

I entered Launch Pad’s Prose Competition and was thrilled to reach the Top 50. This led to the book reaching The Red List on Coverfly and massively helped me to promote the book. It was a[n] incredible confidence boost and endorsement that has propelled me forward and now my first novel, The Chancer, is published... A huge thank you to Launch Pad for helping me on this journey.

Fiona Graham

Fiona Graham

Had her book published in May 2023.

I've submitted to a variety of writing competitions that promise exposure from contest placements, but the first time I'd actually seen proof of that was when I placed in Launch Pad's Prose Writing Competition. Their development executives communicated with me at each placement milestone and gave detailed updates as to how they were marketing I and the other authors' work. Within a month of the contest ending, I actually saw results where agencies expressed interest in my work...

Uzo Chijioke

Uzo Chijioke

Prose Competition

Whether you write for TV, film, novels or short stories you owe it to yourself to enter a Launch Pad competition. I've never experienced a team so dedicated to promoting you and your work.

Craig Lew

Craig Lew

Prose Competition

I really wasn't expecting for Launch Pad to follow through after the competition, but they've gone above and beyond to help us aspiring-writers with our careers! Plus they're just so nice!

Celia Rettenmaier

Celia Rettenmaier

Prose Competition

The LaunchPad competition was incredibly beneficial for me. The support from the organization is really helpful and the clear guidelines really pushed me to clarify my bio and pitch. LaunchPad got my work in front of the right people and I’m thrilled to have signed on with Gravity Squared Entertainment for management.

Joe Cooke

Joe Cooke

Signed with a literary manager

I've been trying to break in by applying to competitions for years and fully did not expect one to move the needle on my writing career at all. But after signing with management as a direct result of entering the LaunchPad Prose Competition, I'm telling everyone that LaunchPad is a needle-mover and more importantly, put me in touch with people who I feel "get" me.

Allison Mick

Allison Mick

Signed with a literary Manager

VIP Producing Partner Scott Glassgold

We are thrilled to welcome VIP Producing Partner Scott Glassgold, who will be selecting one eligible manuscript or short story to develop.

Scott Glassgold is the founder of Ground Control, a leading entertainment platform specializing in filmed media & publishing. Scott has produced such feature films as Prospect, Hurricane Season and the upcoming Sony Pictures’ HorrorScope. Currently, Ground Control is shepherding numerous high-profile projects including The Dwelling with Michael B Jordan at Amazon, We Used To Live Here at Netflix with Blake Lively and The Occupant at New Line Cinema with Zach Cregger and Roy Lee. Always maintaining an emphasis on emerging filmmakers, Ground Control oversees the Scream Gems Horror Lab for Sony Pictures.

Requires Add-On or Top 10 placement

Guaranteed Development Prize

This year we are excited to be working with two Guaranteed Development Partners, Kronicle Media and Shadowboxer Films! Each partner will select one writer or writing team work with on developing their project.

Our first partner is Kronicle Media, started in 2017 by longtime friends, and now business partners Korin Williams and Monique Nash, was imagined with the desire to see more diversity in the film and television industry. They currently oversee a number of projects in various stages of development, including, a drama series inspired by the founding of the iconic Black women’s magazine, Essence; romantic comedies for Netflix and VH-1, and a series adaptation of the book, Shakespeare’s Conspirator written by the legendary Tom Fontana and newcomer Gabrielle Fulton- Ponder for Westbrook Studios. Most recently, they executive produced Crown Media’s first movie under its newly created Mahogany banner, UNTHINKABLY GOOD THINGS, shot entirely on location in Rome, Italy in partnership with ITV Studios’ Cattleya Productions. Prior to this, Williams served as Head of Television for Will Packer Productions, where she successfully led the shingle’s foray into television, garnering three series orders in the first year and was Co-Executive Producer for A+E Studios’ Emmy®- nominated remake of ROOTS, ABC’s UNCLE BUCK, starring Mike Epps and Nia Long, and NBC’s TRUTH BE TOLD. Nash served as Director of Current Programming & Development at Will Packer Productions and as Manager, Current Programming at Fox Broadcast Company, where she oversaw series including BONES, THE SIMPSONS, BACK TO YOU, THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES and THE WAR AT HOME.

 

 

Our second Development Partner is Robert Ballo of Shadowboxer Films. Robert is an active, passionate and creative hands-on filmmaker, having produced over 50 feature films since 2004 all having received domestic and world-wide distribution. At USC’s School of Cinematic Arts (also his alma mater) he was a member of the professional faculty as an Associate Professor of Practice teaching for 20 years. With an eye for great images, he was a member of International Cinematographers Guild as a Director of Photography for 10 years. Currently, he is a voting member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Requires Add-On or Top 10 placement

Guaranteed Signing Prize

This year’s Guaranteed Signing partner is management and production company Sandstone Artists, who will select one writer or writing team to sign as a client.

Sandstone Artists is an entertainment company that focuses on talent and literary management as well as film and television production. We take pride in discovering, amplifying, and celebrating the unique talents found in our diverse array of artists. Our unwavering commitment to our clients embodies more than just representation; we diligently nurture enduring relationships, staunchly protect creator rights, and continuously contribute to the forward momentum of the global entertainment landscape. Sandstone Artists’ clients’ works have been produced by globally recognized production companies, including Hulu, Twentieth Century Fox, Quiver, Paramount Pictures, MGM, Millennium, Searchlight, Warner Brothers, ION, Hallmark, and more.

Requires Add-On or Top 10 placement

Launch Pad Mentorship Program

Requires Add On in Checkout or Top 10 Placement

The best way to learn is by working with experienced professionals who have already navigated that path to success. That is exactly what the Launch Pad exclusive mentorship opportunity is set up to do. These Launch Pad mentors will each select one writer or writing team to give advice on navigating the industry and share their unique perspectives on writing and storytelling.

Sara Shepard

Sara Shepard is the author of nearly 40 books, including the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Pretty Little Liars, which aired for seven seasons on Freeform. She has also had two other book series adapted for television, writes and illustrates novels for teens, adults, and elementary age children, and writes and produces for television and podcasts as well. She lives in Pennsylvania with her family.

Dr. Ken Atchity

With more than fifty years’ experience in the publishing world, and over thirty years in entertainment, Dr. Ken Atchity (PhD Yale) has been called a “story merchant”—writer, professor, editor, producer, and literary manager. He’s launched hundreds of books and films, including New York Times bestsellers and Emmy-nominated documentaries. He’s made over 200 film or television deals--with every broadcaster and every studio in Hollywood, and plenty of independent film companies as well. His more than thirty films include The Meg (Jason Statham), The Lost Valentine (Betty White), Angels in the Snow (Kristy Swanson), The Madams Family (Ellen Burstyn), Hysteria (Maggie Gyllenhaal), and Life or Something Like It (Angelina Jolie). He’s published over twenty books of his own, including six for writers at every stage of their careers. Before he left his tenured position at Occidental College to pursue his lifelong mission to bring writers to success in the story marketplace, he was Fulbright professor to the University of Bologna, Italy, Distinguished Instructor of scripts and novels at UCLA Writers Program, and regular columnist for The Los Angeles Times Book Review. He’s a voting member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Emily Hardy

Emily Hardy is a producer and consultant with more than 8 years of experience working in drama development. Emily was formerly VP of Creative Affairs at Fineman Entertainment under EP Ross Fineman, supporting all development and production including series like THE LINCOLN LAWYER (Netflix), BIG SKY (ABC) GOLIATH (Amazon), with one series ordered in Australia and many more developed at HBO, CBS, ABC, TNT/tbs, AMC and internationally.Emily started as an actor (SAG-AFTRA) and creative producer; she's worn so many hats in Hollywood, she's become a Swiss Army knife for storytelling. To date her proudest achievement is to have mentored and taught story and script development, as well as staging and performance, to incarcerated youth (ages 14-17) at the Juvenile Probation Camp David Gonzales in Los Angeles (now closed) through The Unusual Suspects Theater Company.

Lyra Tan

Born and raised in Hong Kong to a Filipino mom and a Chinese-Filipino dad, Lyra Tan has been a lifelong lover of stories and fantasy. Having risen the ranks from floater to assistant to coordinator in the TV Literary department at the Gersh Agency, Lyra's dream is to have the opportunity to champion diverse writers from all walks of life and discover stories for the screen that are both diverse and universal. While diversity is incredibly important, universality is even more so (and everything needs a little sprinkle of magic).

Submission Guidelines

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.

Selection Criteria

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. 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.

Rules

  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. Employees of the Launch Pad and their immediate families are ineligible to participate in this contest. Any such submission will be immediately disqualified.
  24. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
  25. 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.
  26. 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.

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