From Imagination to Novel: How to Tell Stories Through Illustration

Got a head full of scenes and characters but a blank first page? This session turns raw ideas into illustrated narratives that actually land.

You’ll see how illustrators move from spark → sketch → sequence → sustained story, and how collaboration (with writers, editors, and peers) levels up the work.

We’ll also show the kind of real-world, socially engaged projects our students tackle — the same mindset you’ll use to take an idea all the way to a novel/graphic novel.

Discover inside:

• A fresh, step-by-step pipeline from “what if…” to publishable pages.
• Practical demos + checklists you can copy the moment we finish.
• Built on London Met’s course approach to visual storytelling, collaboration and live briefs.
• Leave with a mini roadmap for your own long-form illustrated story.

Register free to save your seat and bring questions for live Q&A.

What we’ll cover:

Why Illustration?

The power of images to carry narrative, emotion and world-building across print and digital — the same foundation the BA emphasises.

Process — Thought to Novel

Ideation → thumbnails → story beats → page turns → pacing; storyboards and sketchbooks as engines for long-form work (exactly the portfolio practices London Met looks for).

Collaboration

Working with writers, editors and peers; crits and feedback loops to stress-test your plot and visual language (mirroring course studio culture and live briefs).

Projects at University

A look at socially engaged briefs (e.g., Illustration students responding to archival material to create narrative work) and how this mindset strengthens story intent.

Activity: Live Q&A
Bring your story seed or a page of sketches; we’ll troubleshoot next steps.

Save your spot now → You’ll get the recording, and the presentation inside (make sure you allow us to send communications to recieve this).

Internal use only: XX000 XX106