How tutoring became my secret weapon to relearning content writing

I didn’t feel ready, but I showed up anyway.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for that. I’m scared I’ll mess it up. I’ve never done anything like this before. What if it’s not even real?”

These thoughts looped in my mind for days, right after I got a message from a stranger. He’d been referred by an old coursemate and wanted me to mentor him in writing.

This was in the very first month of the year. Talk about a surprise new year gift.

Imposter syndrome kicked in

At first, I tried to keep my cool and sound like a seasoned content writing tutor. But after our first conversation, it hit me: I was really about to guide someone through content writing.

For how long? I had no clue.

After a few more conversations, it became clear—I was signing up for a three-month mentorship. Panic mode activated.

The big realisation

Once I audited his writing, I realised something: he wasn’t ready to earn from writing because, honestly, he wasn’t yet a writer.

That was hard to say out loud, but I had to be honest. He resisted the feedback at first. But after I shared my findings, he accepted it.

And that’s when the real work began. Suddenly, I wasn’t just helping someone polish a skill, I was guiding him to build it from the ground up. Double the pressure.

My first real mentorship gig

Despite the doubts and nerves, I drafted a contract, we agreed on a mentorship fee (which felt like a big deal at the time), and got started.

For the first time ever, I had to:

• Prepare structured class notes 

• Curate tailored writing resources

• Plan lesson flow based on his current level

There were moments I doubted everything. But I kept showing up. And to my surprise, he kept saying things like, “I love the class.”

We planned for one-hour sessions, three times a week. But we often ran over. There was even one class that lasted almost two hours.

What stood out the most from my tutoring experience?

It wasn’t just that he enjoyed the classes. It wasn’t even that we eventually discovered his niche—SEO copywriting and fashion content writing.

The biggest highlight was that: 

Mentoring him made me relearn content writing.

I found myself constantly questioning, Do I practise what I teach? I rediscovered aspects of my craft I had let slide—like writing web copy (About pages, product descriptions, homepage copy).

And, surprisingly, I fell back in love with pen-and-paper writing. That old-school magic.

I became a better writer

Today, I write more in my voice, edit more thoroughly, and carry myself as a well-rounded web content writer, not just someone who blogs.

Since then, I’ve mentored six more people. And those fears that once held me back? They’re not even a factor anymore. I now put out flyers and confidently say, “Next student, please.”

The real takeaway

If you’re waiting to feel “ready” before taking that next step—whether it’s starting a project, mentoring someone, or launching something new—you might be waiting forever.

Sometimes, the next level is hidden inside the thing you’re afraid of or ignoring.

So, take it from me… Let go of the fear and just say, “Let’s do this.”

Enjoyed this post? Feel free to share it with someone who’s stuck at the edge of a new beginning.

Or leave a comment for Adebisi—what was the one thing you said yes to that changed everything?