Legendary Fantasy Author Sheds New Light on Why George R.R. Martin’s ‘The Winds of Winter’ Still Isn’t Finished

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Makuochi Echebiri is a News Writer for Collider. He has been interested in creative writing from as far back as high school, and he would consume pretty much anything that’s film or TV. However, his truest love lies in the presence of historical epics and thrillers.

Lured by the brilliance of Middle Earth from an early age both in print and on screen, his palate has since expanded to other realms including Westeros, Kattegat among others. He also possesses a great appetite for the stories that emanate from the vastness of space. Even though he is no Avenger.

Obsessed with storytelling and having works of his own that have yet to make it to print, he is content to use that ability to communicate to as many as are reachable. In his spare time, he looks out for avenues where he can aid people aside from his plans to reign over this earthly realm. Yes…you heard that first here.

One of the most enduring pains for those who love fantasy novels has been the wait for the next installment in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. Titled The Winds of Winter, the novel is one of the most eagerly anticipated novels of this century as fantasy author George R.R. Martin has been working on the novel since July 2010 and has yet to publish it. Martin has several other works published, but The Winds of Winter continues to prove a difficult nut to crack. Fellow author and novelist Brandon Sanderson seemingly doesn't share in those struggles. With 32 novels penned under his name already, Sanderson boasts an incredible collection of novellas, short stories, and graphic novels. The seasoned author has shared writing tips that would encourage writers to stay professional, productive, and "progress-motivated."

So what is Sanderson's big secret? The Mistborn author revealed, in an interview with Polygon, that his number one suggestion for a writer and creator seeking to stay productive is to zone in on one project at a time. The writer should focus on that one novel either until a first draft is completed, or it becomes clear that it isn’t working. “That’s one thing I think people discount, is that getting your subconscious working on making things click together is really important,” he says. “You will find that, with very productive people in the creative space, it's about getting really immersed, and really getting so much of your attention dedicated on making this one thing good — that can feed itself. I have to be careful not to break that among different projects.” The author of Wind and Truth goes on to add, regarding what a writer should expect as the novel progresses. “Your brain is going to be like, 'I'm not getting the exact same hits of dopamine that I get when I'm doing something brand new. It’s starting to feel like work, and I didn't become an artist so I could work.'”

George R.R. Martin Has Been Keeping Busy

Perhaps this might be the reason Martin has been unable to finish The Winds of Winter for over a decade since he embarked upon the journey. The Windhaven author has, since his partnership with HBO began, been pulled in many directions by several lingering opportunities and demands. While many remain appreciative of his work, helping to bring the critically acclaimed series, Game of Thrones, to life. As well as his other works, Fire & Blood and The Hedge Knight, inspiring the prequel shows, House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The wait for Martin’s The Winds of Winter has strained his relationship with his fanbase and his standing.

It is possible that Martin might never get to publish The Winds of Winter. It would be sad, but the revered author might just decide to shelve the project. Sanderson reveals that he himself has done so previously, and he outlines how he came to such a decision, saying:

“Point one is when it's in outline phase, and I've tried a few chapters, and I'm like, You know what? This isn’t done baking yet. Point two is that dangerous 30 to 70 percent mark — that's a real dangerous point to abandon a book. For new writers in particular, I’d say don't do it. For your first few books, force yourself to finish. But for me these days, [I abandon a project if] I don't feel like it's advancing my skill or my goals as a writer, or doing anything new. That's where I might walk away. Once in a very long while, I'll abandon one that's been finished. This is when I send it out for reads and I get feedback that makes me think the amount of work to get it to the quality I would want is going to be so high that I'm not sure I want to dedicate the time to it yet. This has only happened twice in the last 20 years.”

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres on January 18, 2026, on HBO Max.