"Famed poet and writer Marianne Moore once described poetry as "the art of creating imaginary gardens with real toads."  This dictum, of course, can be applied to the craft of fiction as well.  As writers, we must create imaginary worlds that feel so real to the reader that he or she becomes invested in your work, wants to keep turning the pages to find out what happened next.  it's easy to create imaginary worlds; the more difficult task is populating these worlds with real "toads."  The toads here, of course, are a metaphor for something else entirely.

Think of toads as connections to the reader's world.  Even if you are writing a sci-fi novel, set on the Planet XIG712, which is populated by robots made of recycled coffee cans, your reader must have a way to relate that world to his own world, to experience that world through their senses.  Your reader must empathize through your characters in a way that places them in the middle of the story's conflict.  Only when you make the elements of your fictional world (that is, the plot, character, setting, conflict, etc.) "real" to your reader will you have done your job as a writer.  

As a writer, you have to keep all of the elements of craft in your head at once.  but, as Bell suggests, "if you are trying to think of them as you write, you'll tense up."  To this end, it's a good idea to NOT think about these elements too much as you write your first draft.  Tune out your inner editor.  Allow yourself to take risks; write freely and without inhibition.  Trust your instincts."

From WritersOnlineWorkshops.com Writing Competitions Newsletter, October 26, 2009

Entire contents copyright 2009 F+ W Media, Inc. 

The Life and Fate of the Indian Tiger (Hardcover)

by Tobias Lanz (Author)

http://www.amazon.com/Life-Fate-Indian-Tiger/dp/0313365482/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251222900&sr=8-1 

List Price: $39.95

Description:

There may be no more magnificent animal than the tiger. Yet, around the world, their populations are dwindling, and the Indian Bengal tiger is no exception.  Some estimates say there are fewer than 2,000 Bengal tigers and the entire world tiger population may be less than 3,000. The Life and Fate of the Indian Tiger offers a unique perspective on these exquisite cats. Author Tobias J. Lanz, who has been studying Indian tigers since 1998, incorporates historical and cultural topics, as well as conservation and social theories into his narrative. He paints a detailed portrait of the tiger's life in the wild, enriching that picture with descriptions of the plant, animal, and human life found in India's diverse tiger habitats. Personal observations on local cultures, scenery, and wildlife are balanced by discussions with the Indian people, ranging from government officials to villagers.
The Indian tiger continues to survive against great odds. Written in part to engage the reader in conservation efforts, The Life and Fate of the Indian Tiger outlines the main programs and policies enacted to save the tiger in India. Lanz dedicates a final chapter to global efforts at tiger conservation, explaining what can and must be done to safeguard one of the world's rarest and most beautiful creatures from extinction.

About the Author

Tobias J. Lanz has degrees in Wildlife Science, Agricultural Economics, and International Studies.  He teaches international and environmental politics at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.