Course notes
A downloadable PDF with clear, well-structured thoughts, ideas and exercises that make writing less intimidating.
Learn from an award-winning author of best-selling children's books, how to write your own stupendous, spectacular stories.
Perfect for anyone who'd love to write. David helps you shape ideas into stories that delight, scare and tickle young minds. All you need is imagination!
David Walliams, OBE, is an award-winning author of best-selling children’s books. He’s written 26 books that have sold over 37 million copies and been translated into 53 languages. He’s learnt a lot along the way and he’s here to teach you.
David introduces you to the Writing Books For Children course.
Thinking about the things you believed in, cared about, found funny or scary as a child can help you create your story.
The stories you love - books, films, whatever it is that inspires you can help you write stories of your own.
The subtle art of drawing creativity from others.
Characters can come from anywhere. Especially real life.
Real life moments can give you great ideas. Here’s how to make it happen.
Finding a subject that sticks out and stands apart from everything else.
When two big ideas collide. Sometimes one idea just isn’t enough!
Beginning, middle and end. How to put a story together and make it engaging from page one.
Exploring the different types of stories and what makes them work.
How to make your hero or heroine as relatable, but interesting and exciting as possible.
Everybody loves a villain. Here’s how to make them fascinating, compelling and relatable.
How to make a story truly timeless, so that any child, anywhere and at any time, can enjoy it.
Finding the right playground for your story, to capture the imagination whilst retaining focus.
What makes funny… funny? Big jokes, small asides and finding humour in all manner of places.
If it's good enough for Shakespeare and Chaucer, it's good enough for us.
Where’s the perfect place to write, what are the perfect conditions to write in? Here’s a few suggestions for how to get going.
Making a plan finding your message, and dealing with writers block.
Visualising and dreaming your way to a story.
The first thing a reader sees. Here’s a few thoughts on how to get to a truly great title.
If you bore children, they will stop reading...
Page one, line one. What’s going to grab a child’s attention and draw them in immediately?
Edit. Edit. Then Edit some more.
All the most important things to remember.
A downloadable PDF with clear, well-structured thoughts, ideas and exercises that make writing less intimidating.
I found David very inspiring, to write - about anything, not just children's books.
- Hazel R
I'm taking this course at the mo and it really is brilliant!
- Jenn T
David Walliams's course is brilliant too - I have the idea and a story plan for my book - writing it now.
- Richard
I'm halfway through my @bbcmaestro course, Writing Books For Children, from @davidwalliams and it's brilliant!! His tips and guidance are enough for any budding children's writer! Shame it's only 25 lessons long!
- Lee
The real value, so far, lies in @davidwalliams descriptions of sources of inspiration & the collision of two different ideas. It's very inspiring to hear a successful writer talk about his craft. : )
- Claire
Plenty of information, advice and references to David's books as well as the works of other authors.
- Anon
It's helped me with the writing of a children's story that I plan to publish in 2022.
- John Munro
Presentation was informative and delivered with great warmth, humour and style.
- Bridget Johnson
The content was brilliant! David Williams is so easy to listen to and the information he shares is relevant and easy to understand.
- Janice Eastwood
The course was a brilliant insight into David's world and forms a great blueprint for character and book development.
- R.K. Alker
David is an enthusiast who knows his stuff. Great tips for people starting out like myself. Powerfully illustrated points from his own books and a wide range of other books, films and comedic material. So easy to listen to and lots of humour.
- David Webster
At BBC Maestro, we want to educate and inspire people to explore their creativity with online courses taught by experts. We've curated top talents in various fields, who deliver video courses to teach you everything you need to know to follow in their footsteps.
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