BBC Mini Maestro: David Walliams’ writing course for children

I promise I’ll get back to some reviews soon, the pile is getting big again. Today, however, some information for you on the new (short) writing course for your children presented by none other than David Walliams. It’s aimed at ages 7-12, and over its twelve short lessons, looks at all the key aspects to writing a good story. What’s more – IT’S FREE for now!

So pop over to https://www.bbcmaestro.com/courses/david-walliams/mini-maestro-writing-course and sign your kids up. An adult will need to create an account for this purpose.

Also, to accompany the launch – there’s a competition to write a 500 word story – split into two age groups, 7-9 and 10-12 years old. But be quick – entries close on March 31st, so you need to be quick! All the information you need is on the above link if you scroll down.

I’ve watched the course, it lasts about three-quarters of an hour in total. It is split into 12 sections, so you can start and stop at will. Walliams gives examples from his and other authors’ books to illustrate all the different things to think about in your story, plus a few silly voices etc as you might expect. There is also a super workbook to accompany it. I hope that many children will be inspired by it and go on to enter the competition.


For grown-ups, BBC Maestro and Walliams have created a full length version of Writing for Children for adults (3.5hrs with a workbook). This one isn’t free though. It joins courses from Marco Pierre-White on Delicious Food Cooked Simply; Jed Mercurio on Scriptwriting for Television; and Gary Barlow on Songwriting at BBC Maestro.

However, as I have had a couple of ideas for children’s stories (scientific fairy tales), I am extremely grateful to BBC Maestro for gifting me a copy of the course. I’m going to start watching it and doing the exercises soon and I hope I will be inspired to develop my ideas further. Watch this space as they say.

10 thoughts on “BBC Mini Maestro: David Walliams’ writing course for children

  1. Calmgrove says:

    I’ve always felt queasy about Walliams’ humour, and that applies to his writing for children. I was therefore unsurprised to see a long critique on Twitter by Jack Monroe of Walliams’ books, and though that thread has since been deleted there were numerous media reports on it (eg here: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/david-walliams-childrens-books-racism-fatshaming-little-britain-jack-monroe-twitter-a9604091.html). While I’m neither condemning nor condoning him he’s not to my taste, and I do worry that blanket promotion of his books by bookselling giants and online tends to diminish the attention paid to equally or more worthy writers.

    • AnnaBookBel says:

      I had a great idea, but need to do some exercises to start to develop it to see if it has legs, so I hope this may help.

  2. Jane Bailey says:

    Hi, my grandchildren wrote stories for the junior 500 word competition in the 7- 9 yr age group and in the 10-12 yr group. I was wondering if the successful entries have been posted online anywhere and whether the winners have been notified please? We haven’t heard anything and my grandchildren are itching to know.
    Thank you,
    Granny Jane

    jbailey001@icloud.com

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