International Women’s Spread Irene Lyla Lee

Reintroducing my friend and writing mentor along with much more Irene. Irene is practically the queen of almost all plant knowledge, she's very wise, and always outgoing. 

Kaylyn Gabbert: I know I interviewed you last year, but we've gotten so much closer since last year that I had to ask you back. 

Irene Lyla Lee: Thank you. And maybe we can cover new topics and get deeper into things. 


KG: What made you so passionate about teaching/tutoring?

ILL: Um… That’s a really good question. I’m going to get really honest. My first job when I was young was babysitting and teaching all the way through to college. It was kind of all by accident. Then through grad school, I needed a flexible job that didn’t pay minimum wage. I’m basically using this accidental career path to help with my writing, so they go more hand-in-hand. So they focus on literacy and writing or literacy and language. I almost feel like this was gendered, like if I was a boy, would I be on this path? 


KG: Have you always wanted to help other writers one-on-one?

ILL: Um… I think that for a long time I’ve wanted to help one-on-one. I’ve always wanted to help people. When I was younger I was shy because I thought my writing wasn’t good enough to help others. I didn’t think my advice was strong enough, like I didn’t put enough value in my own advice.

KG: Do you still feel that way?

ILL: No. I don’t and that’s a lot to do with Brooklyn’s Women’s Writing Group that helped me learn that it was just about showing up. And whether it’s about showing up for a peer or a student and how you help them be present with their writing.


KG: What got you into writing your newsletter called What’s That Plant!?

ILL: Oh my Gooosh! I always loved being outside and loved the natural world. I took a newsletter writing course with Amber Petty, and her main thing was what’s a subject that everyone always asks you. And everyone always asks me what plant this or that is. That’s why it’s called ‘What’s That Plant!?’ and not ‘That Plant’. It’s a great way to combine my love for writing and the environment. 


KG: When we were talking lately about plants you’ve never heard of, were you really excited to find out about them?

ILL: Yes, and I’m definitely adding those black roses to one of my posts. I’m not sure if I’m going to write a longer or smaller post for paying subscribers for it yet though. 



ilylali.com


https://irenelylalee.substack.com/


Irene’s interview from last year: https://kaylynsworldimaginaryandnot.blogspot.com/2023/04/international-womens-month-collection.html


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Treasured Memories

Image
WARNING: THIS WILL BE MY LONGEST BLOG ENTRY. Worked on this through August 6 through September 4. Started this post August 10th. Life, as we know it, is a complicated storybook for humanity as a whole. Some lives end before they can begin while others experience a lengthy lifetime of bizarre moments that form character development and plot twists. Some stories tell of sacrifice of a parent or child while some stories tell of a victorious march that turned the tides for a nation. Your life is your story and it's scary knowing how much control over it you actually have. Are you the courageous protagonist  or the disillusioned antagonist? Are you a doctor living wealthy or are you scraping change and living paycheck to paycheck? How much of your story have you shared with others, and how much have you kept away? Life doesn't end after the book is finished. Each of us impact someone else in an amazing or terrible way. But it's up to you how your story coincides with someon...
Read more

Treasured Memories Part II

Image
A few days ago, July 3rd, I was reading the latest issue of Reader's Digest. The first article that caught my attention was 'Why I've Decided Not to Write a Memoir'. It was about a woman who being given a very detailed and loving letter from her grandmother about why her grandmother couldn't write a memoir even though she had so many stories collected. This article made me reread the first  Treasured Memories I wrote almost a year ago. A lot has changed since that draft for some, and I want to add more people as well. Some bonds have grown stronger, and others have made their mark in my lately. Books named in the memories will be linked in the bottom. I will be using Goodreads links because Goodreads is also important to a few memories. Updating: Keith Gabbert Richard Chico Eric Chico Twin  Adam Kuester Ethan Barnes Jane Harris Grandma Sally Strong Memories Appeared Lately: Maurice  Mike  Matt Nana Maxx Clara Elvin Kimmie Accountabil...
Read more

The Perfect Book for a Traveler of the Mind or Vacationer

  I recently finished reading ‘Where to Go When’ by DK Eyewitness, and the immediate things that make the book fabulous are it breaks up locations by what month is the best time to visit them, they tell when else to go, and all about planning your trip. Each ‘chapter’ is month by month. The other months each location may mention may mention off-seasons, concerts, holidays, ect. In the planning your trip section they mention getting there, getting around, the weather in that month, and the average weather in Fahrenheit and Celsius. For any and all travelers that is extremely important, the Fahrenheit and Celsius because you don’t want to have to take your phone out to translate that on your own all the time.  While reading the book a few places stood out to me as research places for my work like Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan, and Galway, Ireland. Rio de Janeiro was in February, Kyoto was in April, Galway was in September, and Tokyo was in November. As I was alw...
Read more