#44 - Why Preschool Writing is Harder Than You Think | Craig Carlisle

Craig Carlisle is writer, director and actor. He won an Emmy for his work on "Arthur" for PBS and was nominated for second for "Welcome to the Wayne" at Nickelodeon. Craig was a finalist for the Humanitas Prize for one of his episodes of "Sofia the First" and recently received a nomination from the Canadian Screen Music Awards for a song he co-wrote for "Thomas & Friends" (he's helped write over 180 songs for animated TV). He was Head Writer for "Pete the Cat" at Amazon and "Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go" for Netflix, and Creative Consultant/Writer on the just-dropped "Hey AJ!" for Surfing Giant Animation and Disney Junior. Craig has also worked as a voice director, film and television writer and has directed theatrical productions in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago — including Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater, Cherry Lane and LaMama ETC. Craig holds degrees from Indiana State University and New York University and is a proud member of The Animation Guild, Writer's Guild of America East and SAG/AFTRA. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: • Why writing for kids is one of the hardest forms of TV writing. • The importance of finding a story's North Star. • How limitations can sharpen storytelling choices. • And why emotional engagement matters more than comprehension. RESOURCES: •  Craig's IMDB Profile WANT MORE? ✏️💥 I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer. 👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com CONNECT: • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube