Her essays include "Will", anthologized in "Breeder – Real Life Stories from the New Generation of Mothers" (Seal Press Books, 2001) and "Pushing Away the Plate" in "To Be Real" (edited by Rebecca Walker) (Doubleday, 1995). Lee also published a piece in the "New York Times Magazine" entitled "Low Tide", about her observations of the survivors of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. She wrote another essay entitled "Up Front: After the Earthquake" in "Vogue", reflecting upon her experiences living in Japan with her family after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Lee has also written two other essays in "Vogue", including "Weighing In" (2008) and "Crowning Glory" (2007).