Concentrate ~ to direct or draw towards a common centre, purpose, or the like; focus, to focus on one's thoughts and attention

Was there ever such a thing as an art of concentration? I used to think you could either concentrate, or you couldn't. Sometimes it happened, sometimes it didn't.

My school reports were full of edicts to 'concentrate!' while my butterfly brain ricocheted onto something more interesting than algorithms - what use were they to me?

An adolescent doodle reminds me of how I felt back then, and brings back memories of how slowly time passed, how the teacher's voice droned, and how exciting the prospect of life outside the four walls of my classroom might be:

Why am I sitting here

When outside the air is clear

And the sun beckons

Caressing my body

The drowsiness I encounter

Enhances my dreams of freedom

I long to escape

So. Some 30 years later I have written a book, the title of which is The Art of Concentration. How did that happen? How, in the intervening period, did I learn to concentrate long enough to write 70,000 words?

Published in paperback by Rodale, priced £9.99

Available from April 2nd 2010

Available from Amazon.co.uk