MAYA
Young Creators of MAYA

MAYA: Seed Takes Root

A novel packed with real science and philosophy. Read it, spot the ideas, then write or film what you find.

by  Anand Gandhi & Zain Memon
Invite only
$1,500+ in rewards
Ages 15–24
The book

What's inside

MAYA: Seed Takes Root is set on a planet where six species compete for power. Real scientific and philosophical ideas run through every chapter.

The Rewards

What you get

5 Winners
$500 each
Cash prize for five winning submissions, plus ambassador title and signed softcover.
A day with the founders
Spend a day with Anand Gandhi, Zain Memon, and the MAYA team.
On submission
Four masterclasses
World building, game design, narrative design, and concept art.
Live call with the creators
A session with the team behind MAYA.
Physical softcover (Edition 0)
Numbered first-run copy, shipped free.
Everyone
Digital ebook
MAYA: Seed Takes Root. Yours the moment you join.
Who's in

Who can enter

Invite-only. Each person gets 3 invites to share.

lock
Invite only
child_care
Ages 15–24
description
Written or video
Your submission

Essay or video.
Your call.

Pick idea(s) or themes from the book and connect them to the real world. Unpack them, link them or take them somewhere new.

Multiple entries welcome
Written or video
upload_file
Written
PDF or DOCX
300 to 5,000 words
videocam
Video
YouTube or Vimeo link
3 to 15 minutes recommended
verified
Original work only
No AI-generated content
check
Comprehension
Shows genuine understanding of the ideas in the book
check
Independent thinking
Goes beyond the obvious, adds your own lens
check
Creativity
A fresh angle, an unexpected connection, a new way in
check
Clarity
Clean structure, sharp expression, nothing wasted
Who reads it

Judged by
the creators

Anand Gandhi, Zain Memon, and the MAYA team read every submission.

Masterclasses

Learn how worlds get made

Not career advice. Real process from the people who built this world.

Anand Gandhi
World Building
Anand Gandhi
Polymath filmmaker behind Ship of Theseus and Tumbbad. National Film Award winner. Co-created the MAYA universe. Builds worlds that change how you see the real one.
Zain Memon
Game Design
Zain Memon
Created SHASN, India's biggest political strategy board game. IndieCade Social Impact Award. Games for Change honor. Turns power, politics, and ethics into play.
Aayush Asthana
Narrative Design
Aayush Asthana
Writer, editor, and lore guardian of the MAYA universe. Led narrative on SHASN and AZADI. Spoken at IGDC and Harvard MUN on storytelling and games.
Vibhav Singh
Concept Art Direction
Vibhav Singh
Co-founded Studio Sideline. Concept art for Amazon Prime, Netflix, Audible, and Converse. Designed every visual in the MAYA universe.
 

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