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The Plaza Fantasy / SF / Speculative Prize

The Plaza Fantasy / Sci-Fi / Speculative Prize

Judged by Michael J. Sullivan

1st prize: £3000 / US$3750. 2nd prize: £300 / US$375*. 3rd prize: £100 / US$125*

5000 words max. + 300-word synopsis

MICHAEL J. SULLIVAN is a New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling author who has been nominated for nine Goodreads Choice Awards.

Michael’s first novel, The Crown Conspiracy was released by Aspirations Media Inc. in October of 2008. He has been published by the fantasy imprints of Penguin Random House (Del Rey) and Hachette Book Group (Orbit).

He has also been a pioneer in the indie publishing movement. As of 2024, Michael has released twenty-one novels (twenty set in his fictional world of Elan, and one standalone sci-fi thriller, Hollow World.

He is currently working on a new five-book series tentatively titled: The Cycle.

Michael’s bestselling series include: The Riyria Revelations (6 books) – completed, The Riyria Chronicles (5 books) – ongoing, The Legends of the First Empire (6 books) – completed, The Rise and Fall (3 books) – completed.

Michael’s wife, agent, and editor, Robin Sullivan, will assist in the judging process.

If you’ve written an amazing Fantasy / Sci-Fi / Speculative novel, send us the first 5,000 words, plus a 300-word synopsis. (This should be a summary of your plot from beginning to end. Don’t worry about ‘spoilers’: write down what you have plotted for your characters and the reader.)

The Top 5 shortlisted entrants will be invited to a writing lab hosted by Michael, and his wife Robin, at a luxury villa in the Dordogne, in Mid-October 2025 to develop their work. The winner will receive a face-to-face tutorial with Michael.

'I'm on the lookout for character-focused, plot-driven stories that grab the reader’s attention from the very first page.'

Michael J. Sullivan

The Prizes

First Prize: £3000 / $3750*

The winner will receive a face-to-face tutorial with Michael in a luxury villa in the Dordogne, France, in the third week of October 2025.

Second Prize: £300 / $375*

Top 5 will be invited to a workshop chaired by Michael in the Dordogne, France, in the third week of October, 2025.

Third Place: £100 / US$125*

Top 5 will be invited to a workshop chaired by Michael in the Dordogne, France, in the third week of October, 2025.

Terms and Conditions

Rules

Rules

  • Deadline: 31st July 2025
  • Writers can enter any number of times. (First entry: £30.00 / US$37.50 Additional entry: £20.00 / US$25.00 )
  • Entries can be in any style or form, but must be in English, and written for adults.
  • Entries must be submitted online. No email submissions. In exceptional circumstances, postal entry may be accepted, as long as a cheque made out for the correct entry fee is sent to The Plaza Prizes Ltd. (Postal address is on Contact Form.)
  • Enter the correct version of your work. If you make a mistake, entry fees will not be refunded. (You will have to enter again.)

Eligibility

You can enter this contest if your novel is one of these genres/subgenres: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Dark Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Speculative, LitRPG, Xianxia, Wuxia, Isekai. Genre hybrids (like Crime/Fantasy) are also eligible for entry.

Read the rules carefully before entering the competition. Entry implies acceptance of all the rules and failure to comply will result in disqualification.

All entries are judged anonymously. Please do not include your name, address, phone number, email, website, X-handle etc on the document or in the file name or it will be disqualified.

Please do not exceed the wordcount. Entries will be disqualified if they are over the 5000 word limit, or have no 300 word synopsis, and there will be no refund.

A valid submission will include the 5000 words, and 300-word synopsis in one Word or pdf document.

Entries must be entirely your own work. They may be from an original work-in-progress or a completed novel.

Entries can have been published on any website, blog or online forum, but must not have been published by a Traditional Publisher in book or ebook or audiobook form, yet.

Entries must NOT have won in any other competition. If your entry was long-listed or shortlisted in other competitions it is eligible.

Simultaneous submissions are allowed but if an entry wins a prize elsewhere, is published or scheduled for future publication, prior to the date of prize giving, you must inform us to withdraw immediately. Entry fees will not be refunded.

Length

A synopsis. (300 words. This should demonstrate that you know your plot, and will be judged with the opening chapters.)

The opening chapters of your Fantasy / SF / Speculative novel. (5,000 words, max).

Fees

£30.00 / $37.50 per entry. (Additional entry: £20.00 / $25.00)

Entries must be submitted online via Jotform. No email submissions.

Format

  • Entries must be typed and double-spaced, with numbered pages and the title on every page.
  • Save as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) or PDF file with the title as the file name. Do not include your name in the file name as this will lead to disqualification.
  • Max 2MB file. Include the word count for the synopsis, and opening chapters, top right, first page.
  • Do not add cover pages
  • No illustrated work

Judging

The judges’ decision is final. No individual correspondence can be entered into. Judges are unable to comment on individual entries. The Plaza Prizes reserves the right to change the judge without notice.

Copyright

Copyright remains with the author, but The Plaza Prizes reserves the right to publish extracts from winner and runner-up on the website, and also to use quotations from the 10 shortlisted entries for publicity purposes.

Results & Awards

1st, 2nd 3rd and two Highly Commended will be announced on our website and social media on 1st September 2025.

Bursary Scheme

In 2024-2025, we are offering 100 FREE ENTRY BURSARIES across all our competitions to writers on low incomes, and from underrepresented groups. You can apply for a bursary if low income, class, race, age, gender, sexuality, caring responsibilities, location, disability, or mental and physical health affects your writing. We want to encourage equality to discover quality new writing from diverse voices. Click here to apply for our Bursary Scheme.

Finally

The Plaza Prizes expects to be recognised in any long listed or shortlisted Fantasy / SF / Speculative novels that are subsequently published.

The Plaza Prizes reserves the right to amend the rules where it deems necessary. Any changes to the rules will be posted on our website.

If you have a query about eligibility, please contact: simon@theplazaprizes.com

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