David Walliams unveils free Mini-Maestro writing lessons for kids
David Walliams is the UK’s best-selling children’s author of recent years, having sold 40 million books worldwide. His writing has captured the imaginations of young fans worldwide and his books have been translated into 53 languages.
This new course – available for free on www.bbcmaestro.com - is aimed at children aged seven to twelve years old and was specifically created as an additional resource for parents, teachers and children to help inspire kids to get writing.
Lockdown has been difficult for everyone – but home schooling has been a particular challenge.
David’s Mini Maestro course is designed to entertain and inspire children to create their own stories, and give parents and children a valuable resource to keep young minds engaged.
Children who take the course can submit their one-page stories to www.bbcmaestro.com and each week a random sample will be showcased on BBC Maestro social channels over the coming weeks.
20 entries will be selected at random and their authors will have the opportunity to attend a writing session with David Walliams and will be given an illustrated front cover for their story, framed and signed as a keepsake.
David’s BBC Maestro course for adults has already proved to be a huge hit as interest in e-learning grows during lockdown. Mini Maestro is a standalone course of 12 short, easily digestible, child-friendly video lessons to inspire younger writers to put pen to paper.
The course is accompanied by a downloadable activity book, filled with fun exercises designed to help develop children’s creative writing skills.
David’s Mini Maestro course is available to access for free on www.bbcmaestro.com until 31st March, and has been developed for kids to enjoy under the supervision of parents or teachers.
BBC Maestro, which operates in partnership with BBC Studios (the commercial arm of the BBC) offers courses that will match people’s interests and personal aspirations with artists, teachers and mentors who are the very best at their craft. It is a place to learn and be inspired in the creative arts. The Maestri involved are the most passionate in their field and their courses will not just be lessons but life changing experiences that will inspire a new generation of creatives to realise and release their own potential.
Key Information
- For children aged 7-12
- Entries must be no more than 500 words max
- All submissions will be entered into a draw.
- 20 children (split into two groups of 10 aged 7-9 and 10-12) will be selected at random from the entries.
- Winning entrants will be invited to a special creative writing session with David.
- As a keepsake, each winner will be given an illustrated book cover of their story, framed and signed by David.
- Deadline for entries: 31st of March 2021
- Prize draw winners announced May 1, 2021
From David Walliams:
“Kids have the most imaginative ideas, but turning them into stories can sometimes feel like hard work. It shouldn’t be. Bringing amazing ideas to life should only be fun. At this difficult time, I wanted to give kids a fun story writing challenge and at the same time, offer them a few tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way, to turn their fantastic creations into stories that that everyone can enjoy.”
From BBC Maestro:
"David’s BBC Maestro course is such an incredible, inspirational and hugely entertaining tool for aspiring adult writers, we asked David if he could find a way to create a version for kids, to give them something fun and inspiring to do during lock-down.
David’s Mini Maestro writing course invites kids into David’s amazing world of writing through his fantastic child-friendly lessons. We want it to be something hugely compelling for kids and hopefully helpful to parents and teachers as a free resource, at this challenging time.”
-Ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS
BBC Maestro
BBC Maestro, operates under license from BBC Studios, but is an independent business which is not taxpayer funded in any way.
About BBC Studios
BBC Studios, a global content company with bold British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, its activities span content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries across both its own productions, and programmes and formats made by high-quality UK independents. Award-winning British programmes made by the business are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, Doctor Who and Bluey. BBC Studios has offices in 22 markets globally, including ten production bases in the UK and production bases or partnerships in a further nine countries around the world. The company, which ordinarily makes around 2500 hours of content a year for both the BBC and third parties including Apple, Amazon and China Mobile, is a champion for British creativity around the world. It is also a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector through a mix of equity partnerships, content investment and international distribution for programme titles. To the BBC, BBC Studios contributes both cash dividends and funds for programme-making, supporting the licence fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences.