George R.R. Martin finally addressed the controversy surrounding the massive delay of The Winds of Winter during his appearance at the New York Comic Con. Speaking in front of an audience, he reaffirmed his enthusiasm over completing the long-overdue novel, though he admitted he has other things on his plate, too (via Entertainment Weekly):
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.
The author acknowledged his own issue with deadlines, confessing that he’s never happy breaching contracts or failing to deliver manuscripts. Moreover, Martin cannot simply choose a favorite among his projects because he considers them his children that he loves equally.
GRRM’s Struggle With The Winds of Winter Won’t End Unless He Makes It a Top Priority
Martin revealed his struggle completing The Winds of Winter
In December 2024, he reiterated that the novel remains an urgent task, but The Hollywood Reporter also revealed he produced a short movie in honor of his late friend. In April 2025, he told Time magazine that there were days he would make progress, but then, some other project would steal his attention, like the time he went to Dallas to meet the team behind the de-extinction of direwolves.
These side projects, paired with Martin’s refusal to make outlines (and his constant revising and rewriting), all contribute to the book’s delay. If only he could truly prioritize finishing the book and set his other commitments aside for the time being, just as he promised in a comment on Not A Blog, then all will be well.
Studios Picking Up Martin’s Past Works After GOT Fame Hints Book’s Further Delay
The popularity of Game of Thrones opened up a whole new world for Martin, and it also gave his past works a second chance. At the NYCC, the 77-year-old writer revealed that networks and studios are now interested in buying screen rights to his other projects that weren’t initially successful.
What this means is that there will be more distractions again as Martin will have to supervise and work on those new adaptations, slicing off more of his time that could be dedicated to completing The Winds of Winter.
Martin knows his fans aren’t super thrilled every time he announces something, and it’s not about the book. Hopefully, it won’t be too long before he drops the highly anticipated news.
What are your thoughts on Martin’s latest update? Share them in the comments!
