I felt the First Nightmare of All Teachers

Summary

The author reflects on the challenges of teaching content writing, particularly in response to skeptical questions from students about the legitimacy of being a writer without published books and the impact of AI on writing jobs.

Abstract

The article titled "I felt the First Nightmare of All Teachers" delves into the author's experience with the daunting task of teaching content writing. Despite being a writer, the author encounters a crisis of credibility when students question the authenticity of their role as a writer due to the lack of published books and the looming threat of AI replacing writing jobs. The author grapples with these questions, drawing on personal experiences and knowledge of the writing industry to address the students' concerns and reaffirm their own expertise in the field.

Opinions

The author believes that the ability to teach writing is a measure of one's proficiency as a writer, suggesting that true writers should be able to convey their knowledge to others.
There is an acknowledgment of the complexity of teaching, highlighted by the author's reference to the unpredictable nature of classroom dynamics where conventional logic may not apply.
The author seems to hold the view that AI, while influential in the writing industry, still requires human expertise

All teachers can write, but not all writers can teach!

You’re not a writer if you can not teach it.

This thought came to me after my predicament with the nightmare of all teachers.

I recently got to teach a few people about content writing and faced many teachers’ fears.

I know my Medium mom. Natalie will attest to this as she also lectures at a University. It’s one of the situations where 2 + 2 doesn’t become 4, and then you wonder if you know the subject.

And just right in the middle of it all. I thought to myself. You’re not a writer if you can not teach it.

I wanted my students to be firm and grounded in writing. I did my best to make them practice and practice well. But two newbies came on and then I was asked these questions.

The first student.

“Sir! How come you are a writer if you haven’t published any book?”

My first instinct is to answer that I have written an ebook for beginners in the content writing space or talk about my book on Amazon which has gained some views but no sales.

Meanwhile, another thought drove through my mind with disbelief and disappointment. I soon found an answer, and the beginner/student’s curiosity was countered.

The second student’s question…

“My friends make jest of me and say AI will take my job before even starting… is this true?”

I knew I had this one in the bag, as I have utilized artificial intelligence to write for some clients. But I was also skeptical about my answer.

Would she understand when I say that artificial intelligence still requires the help of a professional in that field to guide it to excellence?

I wasn’t certain that she would get it. But soon, I answered the question, and her curiosity was countered.

1. If you are a teacher, might I ask what your first challenging question was in class and how you dealt with it?

2. How would you have answered the questions the first and second students asked?

3. Is it true that you are not a writer if you cannot teach it?