CBSE/(ACAD)/JS/2023 Date: 10 November, 2023

Circular No. Acad-129/2023

Subject: CBSE Budding Authors Programme 2023-24

Dear Principal

Please refer to Circular No: Acad-99/2023 Dated: 23.08.2023 about CBSE Reading Mission
Initiatives through which a series of activities have been introduced to facilitate and encourage
reading habits among students and create a vibrant learning environment.

The next activity under the CBSE Reading Mission is the CBSE Budding Authors Program which
aims to ignite the creative spark within students by encouraging them to explore the art of
storytelling. By writing and submitting short stories under this program, students have the exciting
opportunity to express their imagination and ideas, with a chance to see their work published.
This enriching experience not only hones their writing abilities but also nurtures their confidence
and self-expression.

The CBSE Budding Authors Programme aims to provide students a platform to engage in
reading different types of stories and learning to write effectively. As students write and
submit short stories under this programme, they would have an opportunity to express their
creativity and get a chance to see them published.

The students can submit their stories in Hindi or English in the following three
categories:
Category Classes Length of Submissions
I Classes 5-6 500- 600 words
II Classes 7-8 600- 900 words
III Classes 9-10 1000- 1500 words

Steps of the Programme:

I. First Phase: Conduct of the programme at the School Level

Timeline: 10th – 30th November 2023

 The schools will conduct the first phase within school where students will create
and write short stories, in either English or Hindi.
 Schools to give one week to students to read extensively with a view to prepare for
the Budding Author’s Programme. Some inputs for writing are at Annexure I.
These may be shared with students.
 Schools shall complete the evaluation of entries and shortlist two students/
participants per category for the next round of this programme.
 Guidelines for submission of entries by the students and the evaluation criteria to
be shared as given at Annexure II.
 II. Second Phase: Creation and Submission of the stories
Timeline: 1st December, 2023 – 15th January, 2024

 The schools shall register the shortlisted students (2 winners of each category) for
the second phase of the CBSE Budding Authors Programme at the link provided
on the CBSE Academic website https://cbseacademic.nic.in/. The nodal teacher
can facilitate the registration of students (maximum 6 students per school).
Timeline –1st – 15th December, 2023.
 Each registered student will be provided a unique login id and password,
which will be available to the schools at the Budding Authors portal in the
final Registration List.
 The school will share the unique id and password to each student
registered in Phase II. The students will use it as login credentials for
writing and submitting the stories on the technology platform.
 The link for writing and submitting the stories will be available on the CBSE
Academic website under CBSE Reading Mission. Timeline – 26th December –
15th January, 2024.
 The students may develop, edit, and finally submit their entries till 15th January,
2024.
 All students who successfully submit their created short story at this phase will get
an online certificate of participation at the school's e-mail ID.
 The terms and conditions for participation in the second phase are provided at
Annexure III.

III. Evaluation and Publication

 The entries submitted by students in the Second Phase would be evaluated by a
panel of experts.
 Shortlisted entries of each category will be provided editorial support to finalize
their creation.
 Best entries selected at the national level will be published by CBSE as a
collection of short stories for each category.

For any query, you may send an email to [email protected]

All the Heads of Schools are requested to use this opportunity for promotion of Reading
Mission in their schools and encourage maximum participation of students in the Budding
Authors Programme to promote reading and writing skills among students.
With best wishes.

(Dr. Joseph Emmanuel)

Director (Academics)
Copy to the respective Heads of Directorates, Organizations and Institutions as indicated below
with a request to disseminate the information to all the schools under their jurisdiction:

1. The Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, 18 Institutional Area, Shaheed Jeet Singh
Marg, New Delhi-16
2. The Commissioner, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti,B-15,Sector-62, Institutional Area, Noida-
201309
3. The Director of Education, Directorate of Education, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Old Secretariat,
Delhi-110054
4. The Director of Public Instructions (Schools), Union Territory Secretariat, Sector-9, Chandigarh-
160017
5. The Director (Exam. & Scholarship), HRDD Department, Gangtok, Govt. of Sikkim,
Sikkim–737101
6. The Director of Secondary Education, Department of Education, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh
Itanagar – 791111.
7. The Director (Education), Directorate of Education VIP Road, Port Blair, A&N Island – 744103
8. The Secretary, Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), Ministry of Tribal Affairs,
Government of India, Shastri Bhawan, A - Wing, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi,110001
9. The Joint Secretary (BR/CER/Sainik Schools), Sainik Schools Society, Room No. 108 (I), South
Block, New Delhi-110001.
10. The Chairman, Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya Sangathan (OAVS), N-1/9, Near Doordarshan
Kendra, PO Sainik School Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar, Odhisha-751005.
11. The Director, Central Tibetan School Administration, ESSESS Plaza, Community Centre,
Sector-3, Rohini, Delhi.
12. The Additional Director General of Army Education, A–Wing, Sena Bhawan, DHQ, PO, New
Delhi-110001.
13. The Director AWES, Integrated Headquarters of MoD (Army), FDRC Building No. 202,Shankar
Vihar (Near APS), Delhi Cantt-110010
14. All Regional Directors/Regional Officers of CBSE with their quest to send this circular to all the
Heads of the affiliated schools of the Board in their respective Regions
15. All Joint Secretary/Deputy Secretary/Assistant Secretary/SPS/Analyst, CBSE
16. All Head(s)/In-Charge(s), Centre of Excellence, CBSE
17. In-charge IT Unit with the request to put this circular on the CBSE Academic Website
18. In-Charge, Library
19. The Head(Media & Public Relations),CBSE
20. DS to Chairman, CBSE
21. SPS to Secretary, CBSE
22. SPS to Director (Academics), CBSE
23. SPS to Director (Information Technology), CBSE
24. PPS to Controller of Examinations, CBSE
25. SPS to Director (Training and Skill Education), CBSE
26. PPS to Director (Professional Examinations),CBSE
27. PPS to Director (CTET), CBSE
28. SPS to Director (EDUSAT), CBSE
29. Record File
Director (Academics)
 Annexure I

CBSE Budding Author’s Programme: Guidelines for Phase I

Writing a story is one of the most amazing, joyous and expressive things one can do.
While developing up a story, there are several ingredients that are needed. They can be
divided into three categories.

1. Story Elements
Most stories are made up of five elements to help determine whom the story is about,
where it’s set and how a story progresses. These elements are explained in detail
below.
2. Story Structure
The structure of a story is its backbone. It is the order in which events flow within a
story.
3. The Process:
The process of writing a story is different for each writer but broadly involves ideation,
organization and structuring of an idea before building it into a story by using the
various story elements.

1. Story Elements
There are five major elements to keep in mind while writing a story. They can also be
used as broad guidelines for writers working on their story.

While these elements form a rough guide on how to write a story, not all elements have
equal weightage in a story. Not having an element in a story does not necessarily mean
that it would be a poor story. What is important is an understanding of which
element(s)work best for a story and adequately presenting them.

These elements are:

Let’s understand each element in a little more detail with examples from the famous
Harry Potter series.
a. Characters: The person / people/ organisms /objects that are a part of the story.
For example, the main character in the popular Harry Potter series is Harry Potter. The
sorting hat, which is an object, is also a character in the story.
 A character can: A well-sketched character can have
- be living or non-living the following attributes:
- have any gender or not have a - looks and mannerisms
gender at all! - personality
- propel the story through their actions - traits
- cause a problem - behaviour
- solve a problem - attitudes
- add a twist to the story
- be positive, negative, or neither

Characters in a story can also be divided into various groups according to their role in the
story. Some of the broad categories include:
Primary characters: They are the one(s) not only experiencing all the events in the story
but also heavily influencing how the story progresses. For readers, the story unfolds
through the experiences of the main characters. Their arc forms an intricate part of the
story.
Secondary characters: These characters are mainly defined through their interactions
with the main characters. They too have their own arc and own ways of influencing the
events in the story but in most cases, it is not as prominent as that of the main character.
These characters can be used to build up the main character, criticize them, as a foil to
them…the possibilities are endless.
Background characters: These characters contribute in many different ways to influence
both the characters and the events in the story. They could help develop the story
background, could be affected by an event in the story that could then set in motion the
other events in the story, or could only have a single interaction with one of the main
characters. They need not be as well developed as the main and side characters but they
contribute to making the stories more believable.
b. Setting:
This is the environment in which the story takes place. The environment of the story gives
us more information about the protagonist's worlds and their world views. For example, one
of the main settings of the Harry Potter stories is their school, Hogwarts. Some other
settings include Diagon Alley, The Forbidden Forest and Platform number nine and three
quarters.

A setting can be: A setting can be used to:

- a specific place, fantastical - Provide a backdrop for the story
location, and/ or time-period and the characters
- add more context and details to a
story
- help the reader imagine the story
better

c. Key Events:
This is the central plot of the story and can be of various types. It can be centered around
one moment or a series of moments–an interruption of a pattern, a turning point, or an
action–that disrupts the regular flow of events. This can be done in several forms, such as
 a question raised in the story that would need to be answered by the end of the story or a
conflict (internal or external) introduced that raises dramatic tension and would need to be
resolved throughout the course of the story. All stories need not be dramatic or centered
around a conflict, they could also be simple, slice-of-life stories that just describe an event
or a day.
For example, in the first book of the Harry Potter series, Harry receiving letters from an
unknown source, talking to a snake in the zoo, and going to Hogwarts disrupts how his life
had been for the previous 11 years. The search for the sorcerer's stone and the
associated events with it form the main plot of the book, with the confrontation between
Harry and Voldermort and Harry’s discovery of the stone being a resolution to the events
of the first book and the beginning of the second book.
A story could also contain various subplots that contribute to the development of the main
plot.
For example: While the main plot in the Harry Potter series is the conflict between
Voldermort and Harry and the ideologies they represent, the entire series is filled with
other developments that contribute to how the whole plot progresses, the relationship
between the characters, the death of some important characters, the revelation of the
motivation of some characters etc.

The key events of a story could be:

- An action or interaction that differently impacts the protagonist
- An event that impacts those around the protagonist
- A turning point that gives the story or the protagonist a purpose
- A solution or resolution which changes the story
- A discovery of some kind

d. Problem
This can be the disruption of events in the story that adversely impacts the characters or
events in the story. How the characters interact with the problem influences the events in
the story and how they take place.
For example: The petrification of the students in the second book of the Harry Potter
series is a severe problem that almost leads to Hogwarts being closed down. Different
characters react differently to this problem, the professors work to ensure the safety of the
students, several students choose to prepare to go home, while Harry and Ron decide to
go in search of the Basilisk and save Ginny. They all were posed with the same problem
but how they reacted to it was what influenced how they experienced the problem. And as
readers, since we experience the story through Harry’s point of view, we experience his
reaction to the problem.

The problem must: The function of the problem is to:

- be presented such that it makes - Move the story forward, acting like
sense in the context of the story. a crossroads which allows for the
- Well set up and backed by the key elements in the story to develop
events. It must have an impact. further.
e. Resolution
The final element of a story answers the questions raised and resolves the problem/ issue
that was faced by the characters thus far. In cases where the stories don’t have a well
defined plot or conflict, the resolution is the conclusion or the logical end of the story.
2. Story Structure
All stories have a beginning, middle and end that are made up of the key events that have
been identified, and each of these sections highlight an important part of the plot.
However, writers need not follow the order: some writers might choose to start from the
end, and some might choose the middle. Structuring the story in advance helps ensure
that the different components of the story are explained clearly.

Experiment with different forms of structuring to create a story structure that would be the
most suitable for the story that’s being told.

Here is a short exercise on story structuring:

1. Create a story where the narrative is structured around the time of day:

Graphic organisers are also a good way to plan a story. See this example.
Source: Stones2Milestones Edu Services Pvt Ltd.

Incorporate this diagram’s prompts into the story by clearly defining the action, climax and the
final solution to the conflict at the centre of a story.

3. From ideation to writing - the process

Every story starts with an idea or maybe multiple ideas that merge into one. The first step in
the writing process is to select one core idea from which a story can grow. A great technique
for this is brainstorming. Brainstorming allows you to record your initial thoughts and ideas.

Say, for example, you would like to write a story on the Indian cricket team winning the world
cup. You can note down all your ideas in a graphic organizer, such as this one:

After you have an idea, you can flesh it out with details, which could include the story
elements explained above. Once you have an idea in place, you can begin to work on the
structure of the
story and create a draft. Usually it takes multiple rounds and revisions before a story is
finalised.

It is crucial to remember that the process of creating a story, from ideation to the final product,
is not as straightforward as the explanation above indicates. Constantly going back and forth
between the ideas and the structure, working and revising at every step and making decisions
on what can work in the overall story and what has to be removed, is fundamental to the
process of writing a story. While the linear process explained above can be used as a
checkpoint to measure one’s progress or set writing goals, the writer must never be afraid to
go back to the drawing board and alter everything that they have set up if they feel it is
necessary to do so for their story.
Suggestive Cues
Create a theme-based storyline based on these cues or your own ideas.
Classes 5-6 (Word Limit: 500-600 words)

Theme Story cues: Hero Story

Element

An alien ship lands in school during Plot

maths period.

The school garden is being raided by Characters and

Adventure
someone who leaves behind square Problem
footprints. Investigate.

On a trek, a mysterious sound leads Plot and Setting

one of you away. What do you do next.

Monkeys appear in the lockdown in a Problem

building society.
Love (for pets, for
nature, for your school, Someone is regularly bullying animals Problem,
for yourself) in school. A gang of kids stand up to Characters
them.

A baby gets stuck in a locked house. Problem, Setting

Design a rescue scenario.

A quarreling family meets a Kargil war Characters

hero in their building society.

A child usually scared of the dark Characters, Setting,

overcomes their fear in a crisis Solution
Heroes around us
situation.

A policewoman helps people in a new Problem, Solution

city who are unable to speak the
language.

A failed invention suddenly finds new Plot

use.
 Two magnets are sucking up the Character,
world’s energies. Only one child can Problem, Solution
save the planet using science.

It's 2025 and the world has no Character,

electricity. What will life be like? Problem, Solution
Science Your friend makes a robot that does Character, Plot
whatever you need. What do you make
him do?

Classes 7-8 (Word Limit: 500-600 words)

Themes Story cues: Hero Story

Element

When I… When I found ancient treasure buried Plot, Problem,

(A theme that makes you in my school playground. Solution
fantasize or imagine about
a certain point in time)

When I… When I dialed 100 by mistake and the Plot

(A theme that makes you police came rushing to my house.
fantasize or imagine about
a certain point in time)

When I… When I got to be the Prime Minister of Problem, Solution

(A theme that makes you India for a day.
fantasize or imagine about
a certain point in time)

When I… When I had to host a foreign exchange Characters

(A theme that makes you student from Spain at my house.
fantasize or imagine about
a certain point in time)

Weird and Whacky A strange island forms in your Character,

(All things out of the bathroom. What can be done? Problem, Solution
ordinary)

Weird and Whacky My upside-down day, when I went to Plot

(All things out of the work and my mom went to school (in
ordinary) my classroom.)

Weird and Whacky Zombies take over your school while Character, Plot,
(All things out of the you are playing a game of zombies. Problem, Solution
ordinary)

Weird and Whacky You are in the forest when you come Plot
(All things out of the face to face with the snow dragon: an
ordinary) adorable, furry, and surprisingly tiny
creature who breathes fire.
Kindness A poacher who has a change of heart Character
and devotes their life to helping
animals.

Kindness A friend forgives another who makes a Characters,

rash mistake, and what happens when Problem, Solution
the tables are turned.

Kindness Being kind is hard, but worth it. Problem, Solution

Self-confidence Someone who always loses races but Character (traits)

participates in them again and again.

Self-confidence Character
I was terrified. Butterflies filled my
(traits/actions),
stomach. But I took a deep breath and
problem, solution
finally stepped out onto the stage

Self-confidence When I say it, I do it Character,

Problem, Solution
Self-confidence One day a 14 year old teenager wakes Plot
up and realizes that they are 22.

Classes 9-10 (Word Limit: 1000-1500 words)

Themes Story cues: Hero Story

Element

War and Peace How a town rebuilds itself after war Characters, Plot,
Problem, Solution

There are two major groups of Plot, Problem,

War and Peace people who live on a mythical planet, Solution
the water people and the land
people. Can they learn to co-exist
peacefully when the lines start
blurring?

Write a story about a child your age, Character, Plot

War and Peace and their contribution to an important
event in India’s struggle for
independence.

You are at a Coin Show when you Character

Fantasy meet a coin dealer who specializes (appearance, traits,
(All things out of the in collecting mythical currencies. attitudes)
ordinary)

Fantasy Ghostly creatures have taken over a Plot, Character

(All things out of the school.
ordinary)
 Fantasy The world has turned upside down, Plot, Problem,
(All things out of the bats are sitting and humans are Solution
ordinary) hanging by their toes. Mice are going
to the office and cats are hiding in
holes. How would a human being
live in this world?

The (not so distant) Future A typical day in 2030. Problem, Solution

The (not so distant) Future You see a cake in a photo, and can Plot
suddenly taste it. Is this a dream, or
technology?

The (not so distant) The adventures of my 3D printed Character, Plot

Future car.

Annexure II

CBSE Budding Author’s Programme: Evaluation Rubrics

S. no. Criteria Average: 1 Fair: 3 Very Good: 5

1. Creativity

(Evidence of originality and

imagination)

2. Plot and structure

(Setting, rising action, clear falling

action, resolution)

3. Conflict

(Clear and embedded in the plot)

4. Character(s)

(Well-developed characters,
characters arc)

5. Organization and Expression

(Coherence and cohesion of ideas,

sensory language, figure of speech,
use of narrative techniques- varying
short & long sentences, transitions
etc.)

6. Accuracy

(Grammatical structure, punctuations

and spellings)
 Annexure III

Terms and Conditions (for participation)

● Students are expected to submit an original, unpublished short story written in

English or Hindi (Phase 2). This shall be certified by the head if the school. Plagiarism
check and Principal recommendation would be taken before the winners are
published.

● Budding authors may submit short stories on all themes (all styles, genres, and types
of writing) in compliance with the content guidelines of the CBSE Budding Authors
Program.

● Registration and submissions for the second round are to be made on the tech
platform only.

● There is NO FEE for participation.

● Stories submitted will be licensed under the CC BY4.0 licence

<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/>. Copyright remains with the author
but CBSE reserves the right to be the first to publish the selected works.

● Submissions will be judged on literary merit, originality, and readability. All final
decisions rest with CBSE.