Writer, say, English are inclined to defend say (7)
I believe the answer is:
elegist
'writer' is the definition.
(elegist is a kind of writer)
'english are inclined to defend say' is the wordplay.
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'are inclined' becomes 'list' ('list' can mean to lean or tilt).
'to defend' is an insertion indicator.
'say' becomes 'eg'.
'list' enclosing 'eg' is 'legist'.
'e'+'legist'='ELEGIST'
'say' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for elegist that I've seen before include "Kind of writer" , "Gloomy poet" , "Mournful poet" , "serious linesman" , "Writer of mournful verse" .)