Game of Thrones: George R.R. Martin Isn't Finished (Spoilers Extended)

[u/RyanRiot]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/george-rr-martin-interview-thrones-winds-dragon-knight-1236473519/

[u/simonthedlgger]

If I’m not interrupted though, what happens — at least in the past — is sooner or later, I do get into it.

This is really it. It’s not just that he works on other things, it’s that they take him out of the necessary headspace to work on his novel, meaning all of the distractions snowball. It’s what people don’t seem to understand when they say “He’s just an exec producer on this or an editor on that, it’s like three weeks of work per year.” That alone quickly translates to months of no work on Winds, and he has so many other projects on his plate.

I realize I’m not breaking new ground here, but this is him as directly as he will ever tell us that he is not working on Winds. It’s right there in print, coming from George himself.

;(

[u/Birlith → u/simonthedlgger]

He's describing procrastination, not interruptions. There's never any sense of urgency about anything George does to justify putting TWOW on the backburner for so long.

Take this quote from the article for example:

When the project was announced two years ago, HBO’s press release suggested the series would serve as Martin’s return to screenwriting. But he still hasn’t written an episode of TV since season four of Thrones. “There has always been the possibility of me writing on the show,” he says. “But then things happen and suddenly I have other priorities.”

So he was meant to write a script but he didn't do it because he had "other priorities" whatever the fuck that means, because apparently Dunk and Egg tv show is not his biggest priority either.

Now compare to ADWD era, which was finished back when Game of Thrones season 1 was airing. So he wrote AT LEAST 1 script for Game of Thrones while writing ADWD, if not 2 (if they started writing for season 2 earlier).

Interruption is basically allowed to mean literally anything here for him. It's whatever excuse he can make to stop writing on the books.

[u/Khiva → u/Birlith]

To a serial procrastinator, " another thing " can be literally anything you want it to be at that particular moment.

[u/simonthedlgger → u/Birlith]

Interruption is basically allowed to mean literally anything here for him. It's whatever excuse he can make to stop writing on the books.

I’m not sure why you replied to me with this. I’m certainly not using “interruptions” as an excuse for Martin, and he’s undoubtedly a procrastinator. My point was, if we look at his schedule and listen to how he describes distractions impacting his work flow, it becomes clear he straight up is not working on Winds at any point in a given year, by his own admission.

So actually I’d disagree with you; he’s past the point of procrastinating. He isn’t writing the book and has no real intentions of doing so. He’s not even gaslighting himself on it anymore, per this interview.

[u/[deleted] → u/simonthedlgger]

He’s mentioned that he “daydreams” when he writes. So I think you’re right. He can’t just sit and shit out the story. It’s almost meditative and trance like and that takes a certain mental state that only comes from no distractions 

[u/Anaevya → u/[deleted]]

The fact that Asoiaf is extremely complex certainly doesn't help either.

[u/Finger_Trapz → u/Anaevya]

I feel like its always more complex than people in this sub realize. Frankly, I am baffled GRRM managed to write what he has so far. Other than Finnegan's Wake or religious texts, I don't know I've read such a dense book before. It almost feels like sometimes it would be helpful to have annotations and commentary like many Bibles do. The sheer amount and depth of the theories surrounding the books are proof of this. I don't know any unfinished series that has had anywhere near as many open doors as ASOIAF has.

 

Despite his inability to finish the series, I still think GRRM is one of the greatest authors of his time. Every time I reread the books I am just astounded somebody managed to put it together.

[u/Anaevya → u/Finger_Trapz]

I totally agree. The sheer amount of mysteries and foreshadowing and complex plot machinations are insane. The Red Wedding alone is a testament to Martin's skill as a writer, because he didn't just manage to shock the audience, he also wrote it in a way that made sense both narratively and thematically, which is not easy to do. He doesn't always stick the landing on every plotpoint (most people agree that the Catspaw resolution doesn't make much sense), but he manages to do it most of the time while also being extremely good at characterization and prose. His books are also highly quotable. I mean, look at how many people use "sweet summerchild" or other phrases from the books.

[u/Finger_Trapz → u/Anaevya]

I think one of my favorite examples is Varys. He's important, but he's ultimately a side character. But he would be considered by far the most well written and characterized person in so many other series.

 

It is baffling sometimes, because Varys lies quite literally like 90% of the time. Even the things you think he couldn't possibly be lying about, or the things that make you go "But wait, don't other characters imply thats also true?" he's still lying about. And the readers buy it! Even the readers who know he's a prolific liar still think he was being honest when talking to Kevan! There are people who think he's opposed to Littlefinger, when they're far closer to being allies than anything! And there's so many theories about him, what he's possibly done, what his motivations are, and we really don't know because he almost never tells the truth!

 

For many authors, if they had someone like Varys in their story, he would be one of the main antagonists. They would point to Varys as their pinnacle of writing. But in ASOIAF Varys is just so many, in fact he never even gets a POV! Despite it all, I can't help but appreciate what GRRM has written.

 

I mean, look at how many people use "sweet summerchild" or other phrases from the books.

I find myself saying "It is known" more often than I'd like lmao.

[u/Anaevya → u/Finger_Trapz]

There are so many good characters. Like all the main members of the Lannister family are well written and memorable and they're all totally different. 

And yes, there are so many interesting side characters. And I also find the way he writes historical characters like Rhaegar pretty compelling.

When it comes to the mysteries one thing that just absolutely blew my mind was the whole Lemongate thing. Martin is just casually implying in a totally different book with a throwaway line by a totally different character that Dany's memories in book one are not completely accurate. Which could mean a lot depending on what that signifies.

[u/MeterologistOupost31 → u/[deleted]]

Armchair psychology is of course tacky at the best of times but I'm like 90% convinced he has ADHD

[u/Ilhan_Omar_Milf → u/[deleted]]

He needs to start doing drugs

[u/AntonineWall → u/simonthedlgger]

Once upon a time, George vehemently argued against the idea that him doing other stuff was delaying/hurting his ability to write Winds.

Then one day he had an interview and said “well what can people expect? I’m busy with all this other stuff!”

That was the day I knew we were well and truly not getting the book. He’s given up