Writing and war are two quite distinct and separate disciplines. One has no relation with the other. One is associated with the pen while the other deals with the sword. It is, therefore, paradoxical to make an attempt to compare them. But surprisingly enough there is much that is common to both the art of writing and the art of war.
Whatever the subject, theme, or topic of writing, there must be an objective. Similarly every war must have an objective to be achieved. It may be said that an objective is basic to writing as well as to war. All efforts and attempts is a writing or in war are directed towards achieving the objective, that is common to all activities and operations connected therewith. Failure to achieve the objective would set at naught whether it be a writing or a war. An objective, is therefore, a common factor to both the art for writing and art of war.
Another common factor between the two is planning. So far as the art of writing a drama or a novel is concerned, planning includes the plot, characters, situations suspense and correlation between them. The writer has to select a theme, topic or plot. He has to create characters and assign them roles in keeping with the theme or the plot. He has to create such situation as are required to suit the development of the plot and make them effective. The element of suspense is an essential characteristic of a good story, novel or drama. A great amount of skill and dexterity is called for to handle this element is a successful manner. A writer has to plan a proper balance and correlation between all these factors.
With reference to the art of war as well, planning is necessary. In this context planning covers a wide range of activities, such as provision of war materials, selection of suitable personnel for execution or operation, proper and effective coordination between various wings of the fighting forces, a well considered strategy of operation, scope for tactical withdrawals to suit the situation. What is most important in the art of war is selection and provision of suitable armament, needed for the proposed operation. The next step is to pick up suitably competent men for the execution of operations. Even the most effective armament would be of no use if the persons in charge of the operations are incompetent. Different wings of the fighting forces must function under a unified command for achieving the objective. Relatively more important is the overall strategy of operation conceived by the general. It is equally important to provide for tactical withdrawals to suit the situations. All these function are almost identical both to a general planning for a military campaign and a writer planning for a composition.
A successful writer is expected to have through knowledge of human nature. Lack of such knowledge would render his writings unnatural and ineffective. Such a writer would fail in developing his plot in a natural manner and also in pre-judging the reactions of his readers. Such knowledge is equally important in the successful operation of a war. A general not equipped with the knowledge of human nature is likely to err in right selection of captains for his campaigns and also in pre-judging the reactions of his enemy to his tactical moves.
Just as special knowledge of the society, culture and tradition of the people of the age pertaining to the subject matter of work is important to the writer, similarly a general must have special knowledge of the country, terrain and people of the land of his operation. A general like a writer is most likely to commit blunders without a thorough knowledge of these aspects of the matter.
A writer must have a sense of timing, that makes all the difference between his success and failure. In the case of a war, the timing of strike is crucial. A sense of timing is, therefore, as important in writing as in a war. Both in writing as well in war precision is vital. There is no place for superfluity and ambiguity in both the operations. Both in the art of writing and art of war adaptability to changing situation is of great value. Without this the whole operation may crash against unforeseen obstacles.
In spite of so much similarity, there is no thoroughfare to the art of war as well as in the art of writing. Every venture has to be started in its own way. In every venture not the quantity but the quality matters. In both the spheres an off-the-track and unusual start may sometimes bring remarkable success.
Whatever the subject, theme, or topic of writing, there must be an objective. Similarly every war must have an objective to be achieved. It may be said that an objective is basic to writing as well as to war. All efforts and attempts is a writing or in war are directed towards achieving the objective, that is common to all activities and operations connected therewith. Failure to achieve the objective would set at naught whether it be a writing or a war. An objective, is therefore, a common factor to both the art for writing and art of war.
Another common factor between the two is planning. So far as the art of writing a drama or a novel is concerned, planning includes the plot, characters, situations suspense and correlation between them. The writer has to select a theme, topic or plot. He has to create characters and assign them roles in keeping with the theme or the plot. He has to create such situation as are required to suit the development of the plot and make them effective. The element of suspense is an essential characteristic of a good story, novel or drama. A great amount of skill and dexterity is called for to handle this element is a successful manner. A writer has to plan a proper balance and correlation between all these factors.
With reference to the art of war as well, planning is necessary. In this context planning covers a wide range of activities, such as provision of war materials, selection of suitable personnel for execution or operation, proper and effective coordination between various wings of the fighting forces, a well considered strategy of operation, scope for tactical withdrawals to suit the situation. What is most important in the art of war is selection and provision of suitable armament, needed for the proposed operation. The next step is to pick up suitably competent men for the execution of operations. Even the most effective armament would be of no use if the persons in charge of the operations are incompetent. Different wings of the fighting forces must function under a unified command for achieving the objective. Relatively more important is the overall strategy of operation conceived by the general. It is equally important to provide for tactical withdrawals to suit the situations. All these function are almost identical both to a general planning for a military campaign and a writer planning for a composition.
A successful writer is expected to have through knowledge of human nature. Lack of such knowledge would render his writings unnatural and ineffective. Such a writer would fail in developing his plot in a natural manner and also in pre-judging the reactions of his readers. Such knowledge is equally important in the successful operation of a war. A general not equipped with the knowledge of human nature is likely to err in right selection of captains for his campaigns and also in pre-judging the reactions of his enemy to his tactical moves.
Just as special knowledge of the society, culture and tradition of the people of the age pertaining to the subject matter of work is important to the writer, similarly a general must have special knowledge of the country, terrain and people of the land of his operation. A general like a writer is most likely to commit blunders without a thorough knowledge of these aspects of the matter.
A writer must have a sense of timing, that makes all the difference between his success and failure. In the case of a war, the timing of strike is crucial. A sense of timing is, therefore, as important in writing as in a war. Both in writing as well in war precision is vital. There is no place for superfluity and ambiguity in both the operations. Both in the art of writing and art of war adaptability to changing situation is of great value. Without this the whole operation may crash against unforeseen obstacles.
In spite of so much similarity, there is no thoroughfare to the art of war as well as in the art of writing. Every venture has to be started in its own way. In every venture not the quantity but the quality matters. In both the spheres an off-the-track and unusual start may sometimes bring remarkable success.
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