If George R. R. Martin doesn’t want to write Winds of Winter, that’s OK

As a long-time fan of George R.R. Martin and his epic series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” I have eagerly anticipated each new installment with bated breath. But over the past decade, my excitement has turned to frustration and sadness as I’ve watched the publication date for “The Winds of Winter” slip further and further away.

With my extensive experience in writing and editing, I’ve dealt with countless words and various authors. I’m well-versed in procrastination techniques. Based on this knowledge, I believe George R. R. Martin is not eager to complete “The Winds of Winter” without any direct interaction or personal acquaintance with him.

He lacks enthusiasm for the project and may not complete it due to the fear of publishing a subpar work. If he does force it through, the outcome might disappoint both him and the readers. In my opinion, it’s better for neither of us to have an inferior book.

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It’s possible I’m interpreting the clues incorrectly, given my enthusiasm for “A Song of Ice and Fire” is similar to many other passionate fans. My assumption is solely based on intuition, as Martin often teases us with cryptic productivity updates labeled as “writing.” However, I acknowledge the risk of jinxing the process by publishing this post, potentially triggering an announcement from Martin that “The Winds of Winter” has been completed and handed over to editors. Such news would be exciting, but I’m not holding my breath for it to occur soon.

As an avid reader of “A Song of Ice and Fire” series before the TV show’s inception, I’ve been eagerly anticipating each new book release, devouring them as soon as they hit the shelves. Despite my strong preference for the books over the HBO adaptation, which eventually led me to abandon the show, I find myself not yearning for George R.R. Martin to rush the completion of “The Winds of Winter.” Instead, I’m content with waiting patiently, trusting that the author will deliver a satisfying conclusion to this captivating story.

Part of my change in opinion is due to the unusual circumstances in which GRRM finds himself. There are very few other examples of a hit book series getting adapted into a show before it has concluded, but I can think of at least one other: Fullmetal Alchemist, for which the original manga had not concluded even as the anime adaptation sped past it and had to invent its own (widely disliked) ending to the story. The manga’s author, Hiromu Arakawa, was still busily writing the rest of her manga, one that ended up with a much stronger conclusion. A whole different anime called Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood got released a few years later — a redo of the whole adaptation concept, this time more faithfully following Arakawa’s story and, perhaps most importantly, her intended ending.

Just like Arakawa, I’m a huge fan of George R.R. Martin’s work and was thrilled when his epic series “Game of Thrones” was adapted into a TV show. However, unlike him, my involvement in the process was limited to being a devoted viewer. In an interview with The New York Times back in 2022, Martin shared that he became increasingly detached from the show starting with Season 5 and especially Seasons 6, 7, and 8. He admitted, “I was pretty much out of the loop by then.” When asked about why this happened, he humbly replied, “You’d have to ask Dan Weiss and David Benioff.” At that time, Martin was working on his long-awaited sixth novel in the series, “The Winds of Winter,” and shared, “My ending will be very different from what unfolded on screen.”

While Arakawa consistently wrote “Fullmetal Alchemist” manga and offered input for its anime adaptations, Martin appears to have balanced multiple projects. Some of these projects have been connected to the characters of “A Song of Ice and Fire,” such as his 2018 novel “Fire & Blood,” which laid the foundation for the TV show “House of the Dragon.” Martin’s enthusiasm for this new venture, based on his personal blog, demonstrates that he remains engaged with the world he created and has more stories to share.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve been eagerly anticipating George R.R. Martin’s latest work, “A Song of Ice and Fire,” book six – “The Winds of Winter.” However, it feels like something is holding him back from completing this installment with the same enthusiasm he once had. It just doesn’t seem to align with the excitement I, as a fan, am feeling for this upcoming release.

I find it strange as a gamer to imagine myself in George R.R. Martin’s shoes after the unconventional ending of “Game of Thrones” and the backlash from disappointed fans. If I were him, the urge to swiftly and angrily write an alternative conclusion, something more aligned with his original plans, would be overwhelming. The desire for vindication can be a strong force, especially if Martin truly feels that he was pushed out of the production process. However, it’s baffling that instead, we witness him immersing himself in new stories rather than revisiting “A Song of Ice and Fire.”

In this section of the article, we’ll discuss the causes of procrastination based on my personal observations. Having been diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 12, I’ve gained extensive insight into the two types of procrastination I practice. Please note that the following reflections are drawn from my own experiences.

The first is the better kind, because I personally have found I can solve it with a Wellbutrin prescription. The way it works is simple: It’s just too damn hard to get started on a given task, especially a hard one. Even people without ADHD can understand this experience, but people who have ADHD may experience it in a far more acute way, to an extent that their brain may feel that it is impossible to get started at all. I’ve seen it called “ADHD paralysis.” Whatever you call it, it’s a huge pain in the ass if you want to get some writing done, especially difficult or complicated writing. Imagine this: You have writing you want to do, you have a deadline (maybe one you’ve already blown), you know exactly what you want to write, and you do want to write — you just cannot get yourself to start. Here’s the important part of that sentence: You want to write. The only thing holding you back is your own brain.

Based on my observations and understanding of George R.R. Martin’s writing process from following his updates and interviews over the years, I strongly believe that his delay in completing “The Winds of Winter” is not due to a simple lack of desire or motivation, as some might assume. Instead, I think he’s grappling with an entirely different kind of challenge: either he genuinely doesn’t want to write it because of the immense pressure and complexities involved, or he’s struggling to figure out how to write it due to the intricate plot entanglements of his characters.

I’ve been there myself, and I know other writers who have experienced this as well. You have an exciting idea that gets approved, but when you sit down to write, you find yourself struggling. The idea no longer excites you or doesn’t seem to work out as planned. You’ve started writing, but the words just don’t flow. It’s not like the usual procrastination where getting started was the hard part and once you got going, the ideas came pouring out.

I’m just as disappointed as you are about not being able to read “The Winds of Winter” yet. I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time. But what makes this situation even more disheartening for me is the past decade of listening to George R. R. Martin express his frustration and disappointment about the delay in publishing the book. During an event with Cassandra Clare in October 2023, Martin admitted in a dejected tone that her upcoming book might still be released before “The Winds of Winter.” He acknowledged that he is over a decade late with the publication of the book and urged the audience not to ask about it any further.

I’ve been working tirelessly on this game project for what feels like an eternity, and still, the endless stream of questions from fans doesn’t seem to let up. It’s as if the game is hovering just out of reach, tantalizingly close but never quite ready to be in my hands. Two years ago, I confidently announced that it was 75% complete. But now, I can’t help but wonder if all those estimates I’ve made since I began this journey around 2010 have just been wild guesses. The more I try to pin down a release date, the further away it seems to slip. It’s beginning to feel like I’m stuck in Zeno’s Paradox – making progress towards my goal, but never quite getting there.

Fans aren’t just eagerly anticipating the conclusion of “A Song of Ice and Fire” series with “The Winds of Winter.” Instead, this book is actually the second-to-last installment. Given George R.R. Martin’s current progress, do fans truly believe that “A Dream of Spring,” the final book, will be a breeze for him to write?

As an avid fan of George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, I’ve been eagerly awaiting each new installment with bated breath since the release of “A Game of Thrones” in 1996. The initial two-year gap between books was impressive and kept me hooked, but as time passed, the waits grew longer.

While Martin appears unfazed by completing other projects, such as adding to “Elden Ring”‘s lore or agreeing to new collaborations, some fans grow frustrated with his seemingly divided focus on “The Winds of Winter.” However, I urge these fans to consider Martin’s perspective. As a creative individual, he is drawn to projects that inspire him. The fact that he continues to choose various assignments suggests not only his passion for those tasks but also potential doubts or lack of enthusiasm towards “The Winds of Winter.” For me personally, such a pattern would be a clear sign that I had little interest in completing the task and was secretly hoping it would no longer be required.

George R.R. Martin’s editors likely won’t rush him to complete his book since it brings them significant financial gains, even if the final product is subpar. Renegotiating his contract seems unlikely for them. However, watching him struggle for years without finishing is concerning and inhumane to me. I fear the outcome of such a laborious process.

From a gamer’s perspective, I understand the frustration and longing for a satisfying conclusion to our beloved series. However, let’s face it, we can’t keep begging this man to write the book he obviously dislikes. Instead, let’s acknowledge that we did receive an ending, albeit a rushed one in the form of a television finale. Yes, some plot points may not have aligned perfectly with our expectations, but several did seem to follow the foreshadowing from the books. In essence, it’s not ideal, and we could do with better closure, but it’s something we’ve got to work with. And let’s be honest, it’s probably as good as the original “Fullmetal Alchemist” ending.

For common folks like us, it’s unclear how we can truly set George R.R. Martin free from his predicament. Unless his publisher grants him forgiveness, he may never feel the profound relief that comes when an editor releases you from working on a project you dislike and cannot seem to complete or improve. It’s akin to the relief felt when plans are canceled for tasks we never wanted in the first place, but even more satisfying. Unfortunately, this scenario is unlikely for Martin. All I can do is write this essay, hoping it persuades a few people to cease pressuring him about completing a book that appears to hold little interest for him. One can only imagine how dispirited he must already be; he doesn’t need additional reminders of the anticlimactic ending to his series.

Elden Ring was an amazing game throughout, and we can hold onto that memory. George R. R. Martin likely has many more fascinating projects in store for us instead of The Winds of Winter being one of them.

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2024-07-17 17:19