Leanne Phillips

I’m excited to announce that one of my favorite short stories I’ve ever written, called “Trees,” has advanced to the finals in ScreenCraft’s 2023 Cinematic Short Story Competition. The story is actually a chapter from my novel. That others saw something in this story is quite meaningful to me because […]

Seven years ago I made the ridiculous decision to go back to school full-time while continuing to work full-time. “It’s just two years,” I told myself. “You can power through anything for just two years.” Only during those first two years, I became motivated. Professors encouraged me. Literature inspired me. […]

Friday morning, I learned my fiction manuscript, California Is an Earthquake, was selected as the Book Winner in Launch Pad’s 6th Annual Prose Writing Competition. I couldn’t believe it—I kept scrolling up and down on the announcement page, looking for the real announcement, because I was sure I was reading […]

My manuscript advanced to the Top 10! (Launch Pad 6th Annual Prose Writing Competition Top 10.) It may not be very professional, but I’ll admit: I cried when I read the news. I am super excited. (Yes, Launch Pad, I was the one refreshing your website every thirty minutes all […]

I did it! I uploaded my completed manuscript to the Launch Pad’s 6th Annual Prose Writing Competition on Friday, October 28th, at 11:59 p.m. I am not kidding. And today I got the news that my manuscript advanced to the Top 50! (6th Annual Launch Pad Prose Writing Competition Top […]

I’m still working on my debut fiction manuscript, a collection of linked stories set in California. But way back in May, I entered it in Launch Pad’s 6th Annual Prose Writing Competition. I was enticed by these lines in the rules: “Manuscript not completed, no problem. … There’s no need […]