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12,000+ Readers & Counting!

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12,000+ Readers & Counting! ✍︎

Interested in how I make picture books?

Curious about my life?

Subscribe to my newsletter Am I Doing This Right? which is filled with comics and musings about making books, living life, and navigating my 30s through the end of the world.

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What readers are saying…

“I’m ADDICTED.”

— Gracey Zhang

“Lian's work is both hilarious and existential - each post makes me go 'whoahaha'“

— Alex Dobrenko, Both Are True

"I love Lian's artwork, ideas, and way of thinking, as well as her code for living in this world. Her tips are always enjoyable to read and look at, and they are packed with inspiration. I have never been let down."

— Hatem Aly, Open Mic Disaster

“Warning: Lian's newsletter will make you laugh. And sometimes cry? You'll understand when you read it! ”

— Veronica Mang, Veronica's Studio

“A collection of kidlit insights and hilarious diary comics”

— Anoosha Syed, Studio Secrets

"I love all the illustrated anecdotes, the behind-the-scenes art content, and the many art career insights, plus the illustration style is so cute and expressive. It's just an overall delightful art+writing combination, one of my favorite reads when it hits my Inbox!"

— Becca Lee, The Haunted Librarian

Why did I start this newsletter?

I started writing Am I Doing This Right? in May of 2022 in my tiny Brooklyn apartment coming off the heels of the pandemic. The world was only beginning to open up again post Covid and I found myself also longing to open up and verbally process my thoughts online just as the internet gods intended.

To be honest, I was coming out of being in the pits of depression for many years, and this newsletter became a way for me to reflect on my work, as well as my life. I dumped my insecurities, my accomplishments, and my silly ramblings into this newsletter in whatever way I felt like in the moment.

If you want to learn more about why I started this newsletter, you can read this post: One Year of Attempting to Do It Right.

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Greatest Hits

Don’t know where to start? Check out some of my most popular posts below.

5 Lessons From 5 Years of Illustrating by Lian Cho

Nine books later, here are some things I picked up

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How a Book Develops by Lian Cho

All the hidden work behind a picture book

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Girls Trip Travel Sketchbook by Lian Cho

We visited Taiwan + Japan and I drew a bunch!

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How to Learn to Draw Anything by Lian Cho

AKA how I taught myself to design 200 dragons

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Dear New York by Lian Cho

I think it's time we say goodbye

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Would You Rather? by Lian Cho

A look inside my twisted mind...

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All the Hidden Work Behind a Book by Lian Cho

A book is like an iceberg... you only see 10%

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When an Illustrator Plans a Wedding by Lian Cho

Things get VERY intensely DIY

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Hourly Comics Day 2026 by Lian Cho

It was today!

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READ MORE