Writer in a row developing into public conflict (4,3)

'public conflict' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'writer in a row developing' is the wordplay.
'writer' becomes 'pen' (something which writes).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'developing' indicates an anagram (letters developed into a new form).
'a'+'row'='arow'
'arow' is an anagram of 'owar'.
'pen' put into 'owar' is 'OPEN WAR'.

'into' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?