Ten Lessons Writers Can Learn From George Washington

George Washington had his 288th birthday a couple of weeks ago. Oddly enough, there were several television shows on him about that time. Go figure. The Father of Our Country inspired on many levels, and we writers can learn a lot from him.

One of the best TV shows began with Washington as a young Colonial officer in British service. At that time he and most Americans were loyal subjects of the crown. He led a patrol of militia—semi-trained local soldiers—and Native Americans allies on the disputed frontier in western Pennsylvania. They spotted a group of Frenchmen and attacked, killing several. But the Frenchmen proved to be diplomats on a peace mission, and Washington’s attack ignited the French and Indian War.

Lesson #1: Learn from your mistakes.

Washington’s blunder may have started a war, but his leadership and military prowess impressed his British superiors. At that time in his life, Washington wanted more than anything to be an regular officer in the British Army, quite a different, more prestigious thing than commanding the Colonial militia. The British, despite freely relying on his military skills, had no intention of allowing a mere Colonial to be a British officer. When the fact of their prejudice grew obvious, Washington resigned. As we all know, he went on to gain fame as a Commanding General, just not a British one.

Lesson #2: Be flexible. Things will work out, just not always as planned.

The early stages of the Revolutionary War didn’t go well for Washington, or America. After Bunker (Breed’s) Hill the fighting shifted to the strategic city of New York. Outfought and outflanked, Washington lost the battle there and the British trapped his army between Brooklyn Heights and the East River. With guile and luck, Washington’s army escaped, only to be chased relentlessly by the British out of New York and across New Jersey. After a string of defeats, the Americans fled to safety across the Delaware River just ahead of the British. Defeat stared Washington in the face. To make matters worse, the enlistments of his demoralized men would expire in days.

Lesser men might have given in to gloom and despair, but Washington made bold plans to strike back. On Christmas night, 1776, in the middle of a miserable snowstorm, the Continental Army re-crossed the Delaware, intent on attacking a Hessian garrison at Trenton, New Jersey at daybreak. But the storm turned back two of Washington’s three columns and made his own column hours late. Nevertheless he persevered, took the Hessians by complete surprise, and captured the entire garrison without losing a man.

Lesson #3: Never, never, never, ever give up. (Quoted from another famous leader, Winston Churchill.)

Lesson #4: Persevere despite all obstacles and difficulties.

Lesson #5: See the thing through to the end.

The following winter, after the British captured Philadelphia, the 12,000-man Continental Army went into winter quarters at Valley Forge, about 18 miles northwest of the city. There they spent a terrible winter. Supplies were short, disease rampant, desertions ran high, and politicians and senior officers plotted against him. The Army was at its physical and emotional nadir.

Again Washington persevered. He put in place rules of hygiene, including latrines and early vaccinations. He appointed the very capable Nathaniel Green to feed the army, which he did. Washington clamped down on desertion. And he found Prussian Baron Freidrich von Steuben, who turned the Continental Army into a professional army who could go toe-to-toe with the British, the best army in the world. Washington’s victories increased and political opposition to his command ceased.

Lesson #6: Don’t give in to despair.

Lesson #7: Always search for ways to improve.

George Washington is seen as a heroic, decisive commander. But he wasn’t always the greatest of planners. His leadership style was to surround himself with the best people he could find, devise a battle plan, and then call a Council of War among his lieutenants to discuss it. More often than not he would adopt the ideas of his subordinates and change his plan or scrap it for a better one.

Lesson #8: Seek out good advice. Listen to others.

When the Revolutionary War was over, Washington resigned as Commanding General. He wanted nothing more than a life of peace and leisure, tinkering at his home in Mount Vernon (and distilling some of the best whiskey in Virginia).

Lesson #9: Find joy in other interests.

But the infant nation demanded his leadership, and Washington found himself unanimously elected the First President of the United States. Upon taking office people were confused about how to address him in his new position of leadership. Some suggested, “Your Majesty, Your Highness, Your Excellency,” or evermore grandiloquent greetings. But Washington insisted on the simple, straightforward, “Mister President,” which is still used today.

Lesson #10: Stay grounded. Be humble.

These are just a few of the innumerable lessons we can learn from the Father of Our Country. These ten, though, are a good start for writers.