{"id":329143,"date":"2025-12-03T12:12:20","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T12:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/spotlight-blue-elephant-storyshaping\/"},"modified":"2025-12-03T12:12:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T12:12:20","slug":"spotlight-blue-elephant-storyshaping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=329143","title":{"rendered":"Spotlight \u2013 Blue Elephant Storyshaping"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Today I\u2019m shining a spotlight on editor Natascha Biebow and her inspiring Blue Elephant Storyshaping editorial services. With over 30 years of publishing experience, Natascha has nurtured debut creators and guided bestselling authors and illustrators to bring out the very best in their stories. She truly understands the creator\u2019s journey as both an editor and a published author.<\/p>\n

Through Blue Elephant Storyshaping, Natascha offers a range of creative services for children\u2019s book authors, illustrators, agents and publishers. Her one-to-one mentoring provides weekly personalised editorial support that motivates you to explore, experiment and dig deep to find the heart of your story in an inspiring and sometimes gently challenging way. Together you set meaningful goals and deadlines to help you shape and polish your book.<\/p>\n

Natascha also runs picture book coaching courses designed to help you uncover the gems in your \u2018bottom drawer\u2019 ideas and take your craft to the next level. I can personally recommend her Cook Up a Picture Book<\/em> course. The combination of structure, encouragement and expert feedback inspired me to create some child-centred picture books I\u2019m truly proud of.<\/p>\n

Now, over to Natascha, who shares more about her Cook Up a Picture Book<\/em> course and her approach to helping creators thrive:<\/p>\n

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In Natascha\u2019s words:<\/h2>\n

I\u2019m a writer, I get it \u2013 you show up and write your picture book and then try to navigate the publishing world only to find it\u2019s utterly befuddling. What ARE those editors doing all day and why does it take soooo long for agents to respond? What does it mean when rejection emails say your work is \u2018not quite right for our list\u2019 or \u2018too familiar\u2019? How can you try to avoid getting rejected in the first place? And how do you know when your book is ready to submit and which of the many stories in your bottom drawer you should choose?!<\/p>\n

Often being a creator is lonely, dispiriting work.<\/p>\n

What if you could have an experienced editor on tap, in your corner, who could take your hand and help you to build a commercial body of work, navigate and understand the marketplace, and pitch your books so they really grab editors and agents?<\/p>\n

When I started Blue Elephant Storyshaping<\/a>, I wanted to spend my time doing what I love most \u2013 editing and empowering authors and illustrators (who want to write) to tell the stories they love. Every day I have so much fun doing just that \u2013 chatting about \u2018what if\u2019 story possibilities, choosing mentor texts to help people with their \u2018a-ha!\u2019 moments, and keeping them current with the fast-changing marketplace. Because I come from an editorial background and I have some distance from their work, I can often quickly see what is niggling.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here are three biggest mistakes I see again and again that stop authors from selling their picture book:<\/p>\n