George R.R. Martin Addresses ‘Winds of Winter’ Delay and Explains Why He’s Working on Side Projects Instead
George R.R. Martin gave fans an update on his long-awaited book, The Winds of Winter, during a recent appearance at New York Comic Con.
The next novel in his A Song of Ice and Fire series has been delayed for nearly 15 years, frustrating readers who have been waiting since the last book, A Dance with Dragons, was published in 2011.
The series began in 1996 with A Game of Thrones, which took Martin six years to complete. Originally planned as a trilogy, the series expanded, with A Clash of Kings released in 1998, A Storm of Swords in 2000, A Feast for Crows in 2005, and A Dance with Dragons in 2011. Fans expected The Winds of Winter to follow more quickly, but Martin has admitted he is still working on the final 200-300 pages.
During the Comic Con event, Martin explained part of the reason for the delay. “I know there’s all this controversy about Winds of Winter and how late it is, but I’ve always had trouble with deadlines, and I don’t feel happy breaching contracts or missing a deadline or anything like that.”
He also addressed fans’ frustration over his work on other projects. Many have criticized him online, asking why he spends time on new material instead of finishing The Winds of Winter.
Martin said, “Every time that happens, and I announce it on my website, half the internet goes crazy. ‘Why the f— is George R.R. Martin writing this other thing when he should be writing Winds of Winter? What is he doing?’ And I want to say, ‘I did it in 1993, guys. Come on! It was lying in my drawer, and they wanted it, so I sold it to them!'”
Martin reassured fans that he still loves The Winds of Winter and is committed to finishing it. “Yes, I do love Winds of Winter. I’m still interested in it, I’m still working on it, but honestly, I love these other things, too.”
Fans are frustrated because the wait for the next book has stretched over a decade, and the internet often reacts strongly to any news about Martin’s other projects. They want closure on the storylines that have been left unresolved for years, which has caused tension between their expectations and Martin’s creative process.
While fans’ frustration is understandable given how long the wait has been, it’s also important to respect Martin’s creative choices and pace. Writing a story of this scale is no small task, and diversifying projects doesn’t necessarily mean the book is forgotten. What do you think? Are you patient enough to wait, or do you think Martin should focus solely on The Winds of Winter? Share your thoughts in the comments.
