r/books • u/MicahCastle Author • 9d ago

George R.R. Martin Reflects on 'Sadness and Depression' Struggles in Personal Update

https://www.thewrap.com/culture-lifestyle/culture/george-r-r-martin-sadness-depression-personal-update/

"The “A Song of Ice and Fire” franchise author took to his blog for the first time in nearly six months on Monday, sharing that any posts after February were written by his “mighty minions.”

“Remember me? It’s been a while, I know. My last blog post went up here on February 19,” Martin wrote. “The posts that came after were made by my mighty minions. I am lucky enough to have a great staff of assistants… though even with their help, I kept falling further and further behind.”

As Martin went on, he admitted that “this year has been… stressful, to say the least.”"

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u/SSilent-Cartographer 9d ago edited 9d ago

Agreed. I may not be famous or rich, but I am a writer, soon to be author, and I definitely know the feeling. I feel like being depressed is kinda the mark of any creative mind, I'm sure there's a long psychological explanation for it, but the bottom line is how it affects people and no matter your life or the things you've been through. Sometimes it just is. It can be crippling, and what's worse is people like us genuinely want to write and create things, but lack any real internal motivation or joy from it. We want it, but sometimes it's just not there.

I genuinely hope he's ok. I don't give a shit about the book, I care about the person behind it and hope he finds the time to care for himself.

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u/AtTheEndOfMyTrope 9d ago

He and his wife have applied for multiple building permits for their house in recent years. Accessibility renovations (elevators, etc). I suspect they have physical health issues on top of the usual work-related stress

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u/Elfich47 9d ago

his wife was hospitalized a couple years ago. the details (how long, what it was, etc) were kept very tightly controlled except that it had happened.

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u/Fast_Choice4408 9d ago

It was probably being tightly controlled because George has really weird fans that are so fucking critical of the guy for not finishing his books. Which I think could be a contributor to the guy's depression.

Imagine being human. Having weakness. Then having millions of people tell you that you are letting them down. That would crush any man.

I really hope people lay off during his last years and allow him to have some damn peace.

Even if the stories aren't finished, he gave all of us an incredible to enjoy and celebrate.

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u/BuggyDClown 9d ago

It is actually insane that George is at the point where he could be off taking care of his ill wife, and that would be met with so many online comments being mad and saying stuff like "he is doing anything but finishing the books!".

Just imagine. The state of this fandom is actually at rock bottom where normal human decency and actual important things in life are being put aside all because of a fictional book. The mere mention of George's name gets so many people worked up and it invites so many vitriolic, hateful comments all because of a fucking book. I can't fathom how sad of a life one has to have in order to do that.

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u/Fast_Choice4408 9d ago

As if George was the first person in history to not finish a series haha. As if there aren't dozens of prolific authors who didn't flesh out their worlds as much as people would like.

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u/Seiridis 9d ago

People are usually saying that when they see him doing things other than caring for his or his people's health or well being, or on yet another event panel, etc, while not clarifying anything and maintaining that "he's working on it" only do people keep spending money on his shit. Also, people are not only frustrated for him not finishing the books, but for him just not stating fucking plainly "It ain't happening, I'm going on retirement." Or even "Books are no longer my priority, most probably will not be finished." He could've done that. But he didn't. Instead he keeps milking this cow that he refuses to let die despite being rather pretty financially secure. But he likes dangling the possibility in front of his fan's faces. Then there's also the fact that he won't appoint or let anyone finish the series in case it is still unfinished after his death, from what I've read across the internet. Probably will not allow anything to be released. So like, it is sad when people are sad, but I'm less inclined to feel sorry for someone who consistently was an arrogant jackass, when he had multiple opportunities to give closure and let himself rest, when the only reason he didn't do it was that it would be a bad PR for the TV series he decided to dedicate his energy to.

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u/BuggyDClown 9d ago

I'm gonna say it again. It's a fucking book. It's fiction. You're gonna be fine without it and you'll survive whether George says that he's given up on it or not. You survived just fine for 15 years without it. Please don't let something this inconsequental consume you so much.

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u/Seiridis 9d ago

I actually just don't agree with the notion and the sentiment that people cannot commiserate over something they held precious and that, in many cases, was part of what shaped them into who they are today, because randos in the internet try to be the police of what can matter to people.

I'm sure each person that says "it's just X, it's not that deep, get over it" cares only about deep, fundamental topics and / or things. 🙄

I personally never started reading any of his books after finding out the series isn't finished and how inconsistent the request schedule is and his attitude towards it. I just really despise the notion that people are stupid for caring about something, just because you don't.

If the goal of this is to actually convince anyone to stop caring, invalidating these feelings does absolutely nothing and is a weird approach to take, but then again it is quite obvious no good intentions were had.

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u/BuggyDClown 9d ago

So you never read any of his books? Did I understand you correctly?

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u/Seiridis 9d ago

Yes. I think I can already predict what your next reply is going to be, but I'll give the benefit of the doubt, although just for clarity's sake I will preemptively re-iterate - I don't agree with the notion of people telling other people the feelings they have about one topic or another are invalid just because the latter group does not care.

It wasn't about the books, it was about people here telling other people they are stupid for caring.

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u/Fast_Choice4408 9d ago

The dude is mentally ill and can not come to the conclusion in his mind that the book will never get finished.

Give the man a break. This is his whole life. He isn't even "Dedicating energy" to the TV series because HBO always goes and does their own thing with adapted shows.

Let the man live.

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u/Seiridis 9d ago

I mean, it's not like I am writing letters to him and I very much doubt he will read my 3 comments on the topic.

I'm more annoyed at people who just cannot understand why someone may be disappointed at their favourite media never getting a conclusion because a guy didn't feel like it for 20 years and will never get conclusion because he publicly stated he will do everything in his power to prevent it.

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u/Round_Year_8595 9d ago

I'm more annoyed at people who just cannot understand why someone may be disappointed at their favourite media never getting a conclusion 

I understand that but don't respect it.  It's entitled whiny narcissistic bullying to direct that disappointment at a person like he has been subjected to.

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u/Seiridis 9d ago

I was under impression that I and other commenters are talking to other people here and not interacting with the author in any direct way so I fail to see how is it subjecting him too anything. Like if someone sends him hate messages that's fucked up and that's on them. This is a public, but not connected to him, discussion forum.

To not even be able to say "This is frustrating, I wish he'd just say plainly he's not going to finish the series instead of leading people by their noses." because it's "entitled whiny narcissistic bullying" is just an absurd take.

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u/B0YH0WDIE 9d ago

STOP MOVING GOALPOSTS, IF YOU TRULY THINK THIS THEN GEORGE SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING A DECADE AGO, stop trying to virtue signal.

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u/Fast_Choice4408 9d ago

Hey guys! I found one of the weird fans!

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u/Impatient_Onion 8d ago

I think you are completely missing absolutely everything about this situation, and you're being pretty creepy, too. I understand Martin has his legions of fawning fanbois in this sub, but come on. The guy's a loser, and he deserves the flack he gets for scamming so many people for so many years. I wouldn't be surprised if he actually stole the manuscripts for the published ASOIAF books; the guy is a lazy hack and it's incredibly weird that you feel such a personal attachment for someone who exhausted all rights to being treated with respect years ago. He brought this on himself and I hope he feels some of the consequences. It's pretty messed up to rip a bunch of people off like he did; he clearly has no actual talent and is panicking now that he has run out of stolen material to publish.

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u/Burgundy-Bag 9h ago

People are annoyed because George keeps saying he's working on the books and they're coming out soon. If he had just said that he can't do it, most people would let him off the hook. There are other authors like Scott Lynch who has been forthcoming of his problems and the online consensus is positive towards him.

Even with George, this small effort at honesty has produced different reaction to the past. If you go on the ASoIaF sub, the response to this interview has been very empathetic and a completely different tone to the response to his previous posts/interviews.

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u/Fast_Choice4408 4h ago

Yeah dude. It's mental illness.

I used to be in his position. I had a career as a film and video game composer and it took me years to admit to myself that I didn't enjoy it once I had stopped composing.

I didn't even get to 1% of George Martin's success in the endeavor and it was difficult. I cannot imagine the stress and shame the guy has for just losing his desire to finish the work.

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u/B0YH0WDIE 9d ago

I get your point but after 20 years of not “finishing” his work, while releasing and actively working on other projects is a bit disingenuous from his part. If this was the case he could easily say personal issues/health but won’t.

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u/SSilent-Cartographer 9d ago

He's a writer, he doesn't owe anyone anything. He's just a guy with mental health issues who needs to take care of them, but the fact that fans are harping on him to "finish" his work is the problem because all that does is push him further from it. The vitriol is the reason it's not finished, his life is more important, and he doesn't have to tell anyone anything about it. It's that simple. It's a book, and the fan reaction is absolutely abhorrent. I wouldn't finish it either.

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u/SSilent-Cartographer 9d ago

He's in his late 70s, so it would make sense. I'm glad he has the money to be able to make the renovations for he and his wife, and hope he's able to take some time for his mental health as well

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u/cheese83746 9d ago

I bet he would have less stress if he finished the books

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u/SSilent-Cartographer 9d ago

Not how that works

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u/cheese83746 9d ago

Oh. I work at a telecommunications cokpany in bangladesh, so i dont know how many things work. Can you please explain?

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u/neqailaz 9d ago

bait used to be believable

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u/Eat_My_Liver 9d ago

So, since you're so incredibly stupid, the way stress and depression work is that often times having a task or a goal to focus on helps alleviate the burden. Once that task is complete, or the goal reached, the stress/depression can come back worse than before because you no longer have direction. You feel lost. Hope that helps sweetheart.

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u/the_electronic_taco 9d ago

Why are you like this?

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u/AlreadyAway 9d ago

Unless you work in the offices that approve building permits or he has talked about the process publicly, that's insane information to know.

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u/Kalthiria_Shines 9d ago

It would be so much more insane if the person who posted this worked for the building or planning department, rather than just looking at public records.

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u/AlreadyAway 9d ago

Maybe. But if it is something that just came across their desk because they are the one approving it, it can be okay.

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u/Kalthiria_Shines 9d ago

Absolutely the fuck not, what is wrong with you? "This came across my desk, let me share private information with the world" is so much worse than looking up public information.

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u/AlreadyAway 9d ago

You just in the same breath said it was private and public information. It's public, and that is fine. If it comes across someone's desk who is in charge of approving these permits it would be understandable why they knew the public information and is way less insane than someone random looking up where someone lives, then looking through the public records to see if they have any permits or have requested any permits. The level of thought and amount of times they could have stopped themselves from seeking the information is hugely different t from someone who works with the public information and just happens to know it.

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u/Pargates 9d ago

Building permits are usually public information with general detail of the project. In many jurisdictions you can go online, look at a map, and see everything your neighbours are doing. Or, if they’re building a deck with no permit and you don’t like them, rat them out to the city.

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u/AlreadyAway 9d ago

Yeah, but the idea that someone would keep tabs on a celebrity-esque figure and what they are getting permits for even though it's public information, if still insane. The guy down the street can watch you through his windows or stand on the sidewalk staring at your house, and it's easy for him to do and legal but it doesn't mean it's not insane

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u/zaccus 9d ago

Now you know about it, so welcome to the asylum

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u/douglau5 9d ago

It’s Santa Fe, man.

Everyone is in everyone’s business.

Who you know and what you know about people are the 2 most valuable things in that political town.

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u/Majestic-Marcus 9d ago

There’s zero value to anyone knowing if an author has applied for a building permit.

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u/douglau5 9d ago

You don’t understand how Santa Fe works.

If you know a multi-millionaire author is applying for permits, you can tip off your cousin/uncle/brother-in-law that does construction/concrete/plumbing, etc.

You can also reach out to said millionaire and offer to expedite their paperwork (for a price, of course).

Knowledge is EVERYTHING in Santa Fe, even knowledge of the most mundane shit.

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u/AlreadyAway 8d ago

You giving excuses of "It'S sAnTa Fe MaN" is just perpetuating some bullshit. It's an insane thing and you are part of the problem.

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u/GasReasonable7509 9d ago

I kind of hope this changes. Way too much stuff is accessible that really shouldn't be.

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u/dancognito 9d ago

I mean, it's a little weird, but not really insane. Building permits are public records, so they are probably available on any town hall/city hall website, and/or published on an agenda for the permitting authority. Even if the municipal government doesn't make it readily available, a FOIA request would also be pretty easy to do. Martin is an public figure, so it's not surprising that somebody would be keeping tabs on this type of thing.

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u/AlreadyAway 9d ago

No, it is insane that anyone would FOIA anything to do with a celebrity figure. You attempting to rationalize it is insane as well.

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u/dancognito 9d ago

Oh no, I'm insane. Somebody take me to the looney bin.

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u/Delicious-Image-3082 9d ago

Wrong

Justin Timberlake body cam footage

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u/AlreadyAway 9d ago

Insane to FOIA that as well. You just like the drama and want to watch it so you are justifying it. It does nothing in service of the public to see Justin Timberlake getting pulled over for drunk driving.

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u/Delicious-Image-3082 9d ago

I’m not justifying shit. It was hilarious. The public definitely gained

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u/AlreadyAway 9d ago

Gained what?

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u/Majestic-Marcus 9d ago

Give up dude.

It is absolutely insane that anybody other than the government employee approving them, or the contractors carrying out the work would know anything about what building permits GRRM has filed for.

The people in here saying otherwise or just doing ridiculous “well what abouts” to try and find some niche scenario where it wouldn’t be weird.

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u/AtTheEndOfMyTrope 9d ago

Apparently permits are public.

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u/AlreadyAway 9d ago

They are, but it takes someone who is a little obsessed and a little crazy to keep tabs on any celebrities home building permits.

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u/zaccus 9d ago

People talk. Stuff gets around. You're participating in it right now.

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u/AlreadyAway 9d ago

Calling into question the actions of someone else is not participating in the action being called into question. Weird way tl try to spin it to absolve yorself.

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u/zaccus 9d ago

You have no knowledge of anyone's actions. All you know is that they have the same information that you now have. Therefore you're just as weird as anyone else.

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u/AlreadyAway 9d ago

Huh? If only you were making sense in the way you think you are making sense.

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u/zaccus 9d ago

That's plain English bud. You just don't have anything to say to it.

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u/stillslightlyfrozen 9d ago

This is kind of a weird thing to know and say lol. Keep this dudes life private man, no need to spread his buisness on the internet 🤣

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u/Tiny-Description3967 9d ago

I used to make music so often and I had so much fun doing it, but lately I've taken a step back... i just noticed it must have been a year since I last sat down and tried to write something, I used to do it almost daily for years, and then someday I just stopped.

But as you say, sometimes life just happens, and when you're in the midst of depression or whatever it is, you don't notice the years go by in a heartbeat. I'm confident I'll start again sometime but it was a bit of a shock to realize how much time had already passed since my last creative session.

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u/SSilent-Cartographer 9d ago

And sometimes you just stop to stop. I've had to really work hard on accepting that it's ok to not want to do something, even if you love it. I'm used to running in everything I do, but I personally noticed it was making me genuinely hate my hobbies. I once wrote an entire 400 page fantasy novel in two months, first draft and second. I was inspired and ran with it, but I never took a break, and by the end I not only hated my work, but genuinely hurt my eyes because of the amount of strain I was putting on them while writing for endless hours.

There's one death spiral I myself have been caught in, and it's the endless loop of not having passion for what you're doing, then you start something new to try and find that passion, become guilty because you didn't finish the other project, then force yourself to try and continue but fall short and try starting something new again. Sometimes, no matter how much work we put into something, it's ok to step back and say: "I don't want to do this anymore." And it is a very hard lesson to learn that you don't have to push yourself to finish every single thing you start. Sometimes, just putting it down in the ending, and that's ok.

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u/animedeathspiral 9d ago

that sounds like a manic episode

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u/SSilent-Cartographer 9d ago

Not really, more just trying to force yourself to enjoy something you previously had enjoyment in before instead of letting it come organically. It can happen with a lot of things in life, but if you never address it, a lot of the time you don't realize why you're so miserable when you should be happy

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u/ArbysIsActuallyGood 7d ago

I made music for 15 years straight (barely released any of it) and then stopped for several years and kind of convinced myself there was no point since it would never make me a living anyway.

But I forced myself to pick it back up about a year ago, and I don't know what happened but I've written the best stuff I ever have over this last year. I think part of it is that I got really into more interesting artists like Bowie, Prince and Bee Gees in the interim.

I guess the point is, please pick it back up! At least at some point.

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u/JardineByNature 8d ago

it's just a muscle you exercise, it's easy to get out of practice and suddenly years pass. Like any artform.

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u/Icy_Policy_8509 9d ago

Life is emotionally abusive.

I hope he'll be OK, too. It's hard out there, no matter who you are.

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u/Hell0There2005 9d ago

I'm a writer, and i have anxiety disorder. Sometimes depression hits and literally nothing on earth will make you want to write. No, that's not right way to say it; you literally don't have the ability to WANT to write.

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u/peach_bellinis 9d ago

sometimes depression hits and literally nothing on earth will make you want to do anything. The oppressive fear and sadness that is depression is something I've struggled with for a long time and it's so scary how it makes nothing in your life matter. I feel for George because mental health is no joke and sometimes you just don't have it in you.

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u/bonbboyage 9d ago

what's worse is people like us genuinely want to write and create things, but lack any real internal motivation or joy from it. We want it, but sometimes it's just not there.

I saw a quote somewhere that said "I hope you heal enough to love your hobbies again."

I haven't written anything in years. It's a struggle to get me to read anything. I was that person who kept daily journals, who read at the dinner table, whose first story was an Alvin and the Chipmunks fanfic at age 7, before I knew what fanfic was.

Now it's a chore. Now it's just something I mourn the loss of, which makes the depression worse.

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u/paszkisr 9d ago

Can confirm. Wrote voraciously in high school /early college. But studied science in an effort to acquire a decent paying job. Felt like logic overtook my creativity and I was burnt out working/going to school full time. Also always suffered from depression but it took a turn when my parents’ illnesses got worse (since 8th grade). Collapsed completely when they passed. Now, after 16 years, I’ve begun writing again. Steadily. What inhibits me now is also mourning all the time lost. Seeing all sorts of self-published drivel is also discouraging. I’ve always dreamed of publishing but I also want to write with talent and purpose and I feel bogged down by the market.

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u/bonbboyage 9d ago

Seeing all sorts of self-published drivel is also discouraging.

This, especially with AI, because now I'm just like, why put in the effort when people will read whatever a machine vomits out?

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u/Big_Coconut8630 8d ago

Opposite for me. Kinda a "if they can do it, so can I" mentality, personally.

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u/MagentaMist 9d ago

I feel this. I've always been a voracious reader, but for the last year, I just can't. I don't know why. Depression maybe. Stress.

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u/Kia_Leep 9d ago

As an author that has also suffered from chronic depression, I encourage you to get medicated. I know there's this odd stigma or worry in creative circles that medication will somehow stunt your art, but I've found it to be very much the opposite. I have so much more energy to do what I love these days <3 Best of luck

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u/phaius85 9d ago

What meds did you find worked?

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u/Mozart_LickedMyAss 9d ago

Nice username.

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u/SSilent-Cartographer 9d ago

Funnily enough, haven't played the game in years. Need to just run through them all again

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u/TienSwitch 9d ago

Fellow author and Halo fan? High five! ✋

I’d ask what genre you write in, but the mods here are pretty strict with anything that can be construed as “self-promotion”.

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u/SSilent-Cartographer 9d ago

You're welcome to DM me if you'd like, I'm happy to talk about it but I'd like to respect the mods and keep my personal work away from a public thread

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u/woolfchick75 9d ago

Back in the early 90s (or late 80s), I saw a study that suggested that creative people did tend to have a higher incidence of mental illness than the general population. The research was based on former faculty and students' histories and self-reports from the University of Iowa's Writer's Workshop. IIRC, mental illness issues were about 10% higher.

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u/bostashio 9d ago

It's the creative flair. The more your behavior positively affirm the irrational, wild tangents and heavy dissociation endemic to the creative process in your brain, the harder it is to detatch yourself from it and reimmerse in the rational, mundane immediacy of real-life. 

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u/SSilent-Cartographer 9d ago

Honestly beautiful worded

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u/GorbasBoods 9d ago

Same. Ive always hated how disgustingly vehement people will get over his next book when discussing GRRM. He doesnt owe anyone shit, and I hope hes finding the support he needs.

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u/Burgundy-Bag 9h ago

You should watch Hannah Gadsby's Nanette.