Forging a path through the (decision) trees: Mapping plot in ethnographic fiction

Abstract Decision trees can help anthropologists craft ethnographically grounded fiction, which is in itself a tool for protecting the identities of vulnerable interlocutors. Deep engagement in social fields allows anthropologists to speculate responsibly, asking what characters might do in different situations. My choose‐your‐own‐adventure novel serves as an example of how storying otherwise can allow us to engage with sensitive materials without endangering our interlocutors.