It's well past 1 a.m., and I'm finishing up a 3,000-plus word day, so I'm a little loopy. Seems like a good time for a confession. Bless me Twitter, for I have sinned...
So, where to start? Um, a few years ago, I got a call from @sharonmoalem, who says, "come help me write a book about epigenetics" and I say "I don't know anything about that" and he says "I do. I'll show you." And a year and some months later, there was this. 
Then @drjohndayMD calls. We have a mutual friend, and he'd been looking for someone to help him and his wife, Jane, tell a story about longevity, and I say "I don't know anything about that" and he says "I do. I'll show you." And a year and some months later, there was this.
Somehow along the way I luck out (like, bought-a-stoarge-container-with-a-Claude-Monet-in-it luck out) when Trena Keating from Union Literary takes me on as a client. And we sold a science book—MY science book—to @BenBellaBooks. A few weeks ago, the sample covers came. TEARS.
Meanwhile, I get a call from @davidasinclair, who wants to write a book about epigenetics and longevity. And I say "I'm TOTALLY your guy." So that's what we're doing now. bostonglobe.com/business/2018/…
And last week, I started a little science-themed radio show, @SoUndisciplined, on @utahpublicradio. And now I get to say "listen to us on Fridays at 2 p.m." upr.org/programs/undis…
Soon—real soon, I think—I'll be able to talk about some more cool new projects. So now I'm a science communicator, I guess? I mean, that beats the hell out of the depressing stuff I was doing before. video.dailynews.com/El-Salvadors-e…
Can I tell you a secret, though? The space between "I don't know anything about that" and "I write science books... I'm totally your guy... listen to us on Fridays at 2 p.m." is infinitesimally small. But packed into that space is a TON of self doubt.
Same thing with everything else I've ever done in my life. When I was in the military. When I was a newspaper reporter. When I became a professor. I've never once felt like I knew what the hell I was doing. I just do the work and hope no one notices.
Honest sauce: When people ask, "why are you so busy all the time?" the REAL answer is "because it helps me not think about being a total imposter."
Anyway, if you're one of the students starting in my class in a few weeks, there are going to be times you'll feel like an imposter. But if you commit to doing the work, and say "I don't know anything about that," I PROMISE you I'll say "I do. I'll show you." Those are the rules.
