Heads up! You’ve probably never thought of the concept of defensive writing. Neither had I, until I was on a dog walk–where I do some of my best thinking, especially about blog posts–and realized that I engage in defensive dogging as way to keep us all safe, stress-free, and happy. It didn’t take long to make a connection.
For me, having a dog is not about taking leashed walks around the neighborhood. I prefer to take them on long, off-leash outings where they can run free. Of course, that means that they’re also free to indulge in some of their favorite bad behavior. I have to warn people I come across that I have a jumper and a humper since up to this point, no amount of corrections has curbed those habits.
One of my two pups has also decided that any dog park, especially one where dogs aren’t leashed, basically constitutes a poop buffet. The other one is determined to eat a chipmunk or a bunny. He has yet to catch either one, but he’s sure he will. So Bend, Oregon’s rock outcroppings and plentiful lava tubes draw him in like a siren’s song that plays so loudly, there’s zero chance he’ll hear or respond to my commands.
While he isn’t always in hunting mode, the moment his sister, who belongs to my closest friend, joins us, the game is on. They give each other that let’s-be-bad look, and they’re off. I have two options. The first involves bushwacking to the rocks and clambering up through the manzanita and brush to leash them and then make my way back to the trail, disregarding the bleeding scratches on my legs. My other choice is to engage in defensive dogging, which entails choosing routes that steer clear of favorite chipmunk haunts, engaging their attention with a treat or two, or even a ball, until we’ve scooted past the temptation, or briefly leashing them up.
So how does a writer stay out of trouble? Defensive writing, of course.
On the nonfiction front, you want to clearly note any direct quotes as well as any sources you’re using. While you’re at it, why not just throw in a sloppy-copy footnote so there’s no possible way to make a mistake? The last thing you want is to inadvertently plagiarize someone or not be able to identify the source of an important piece of information.
For memoirs, consider changing the names of people you’re discussing, which you would obviously disclose at the beginning of your book. Just wait until the very end to run a search-and-replace. That way you won’t have to constantly try to remember who’s who.
Fiction writers might consider creating a chart of their characters with their backgrounds and traits. If you’re writing about a world you’ve invented, a list of locales and their descriptions can also help.
Finally, regardless of the genre, take the time to outline your book. I can promise you the outline will change, so don’t worry about being locked in. If you like pantsing, just go for broad strokes. Just as I choose an itinerary that will hopefully keep my dogs out of trouble, it will help to know where you’re going.
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