8 Ways George R.R. Martin Could Release The Winds of Winter in 2027, Ranked

Winter has been coming for so long that many fans have already given up on their watches. It’s been over fifteen years since George R.R. Martin started writing The Winds of Winter, making the wait for it one of the greatest mysteries in literary history.

As we look ahead to 2027, the speculation has shifted from when it will arrive to how Martin can actually make it happen. We have listed eight possible ways in which the author can speed up the process so that the highly anticipated novel could finally hit the shelves next year, ranked from least to most efficient.

8 GRRM Can Use AI as a Continuity & Research Support

Of course, this isn’t highly recommended, but Martin might need a little bit of help from the web to speed up his writing. Using artificial intelligence as a continuity and research support tool could help the author keep tabs on all the characters, unresolved plots, and timelines in A Song of Ice and Fire.

However, Martin can only use this as an assistant; he will still have to come up with unique creative decisions and key plot points to design the path of his story. This is why we’re placing this at the bottom of the list—it can aid Martin only up to a certain point.

7 The Winds of Winter Can Be Divided & Released in Two Parts

Another possible way Martin can get his novel out there is to divide it into two volumes, which will reduce the pressure of completing one extremely large, interwoven manuscript all at once. Releasing the first half now would allow readers to make progress on major plotlines while giving the author more time to finish and refine the remaining arcs.

Since Martin has already written about 1,100 pages with 400 to 500 more to go, it’s possible that the first half of the story is already structurally complete. On the other hand, this isn’t the most efficient way since it runs the risk of story imbalance, where the first part ends up overloaded with setup while the second carries most of the payoff.

6 Martin Can Bring in a Co-Author or Story Consultant

Many fans have actually suggested that Martin should team up with another author to help him finish the novel. It’s a great way to ease the burden, and at the same time, there will be someone giving guidance, checking continuity, and assisting in organizing storylines.

While this may expedite the publication of the book, it also comes with some significant drawbacks. Martin’s writing voice is very distinct, so if another author writes some of the chapters, the tone may shift unless Martin keeps a close eye on them.

5 Revisit the Original Outline to Realign the Story’s Endgame

Martin struggles to finish his book, possibly because it has expanded in ways he did not expect, but going back to his original plan would immensely help him refocus on the core plot points, eliminating the side stories that sprouted along the way due to his gardening style of writing.

Back when he was starting to develop A Song of Ice and Fire, Martin knew the direction he wanted the story to go. Even though it looks so much different now, he can still use the original 1993 outline as a reference anchor. It can help him identify the intended endgame for major character arcs, even if the routes to get there have changed over time.

4 No More New Characters Unless Extremely Essential to Resolve Arcs

It’s an understatement to say that A Song of Ice and Fire has a lot of characters, and we’re not even sure if Martin could track all of them! Because of this, many of those side characters developed their own storylines that didn’t meaningfully contribute to the central conflict. They only became added work for the author, which is another possible reason the book is still uncompleted.

Martin promised in the past that he would no longer introduce new points of view characters, as he found it very challenging to interweave their storylines in an extremely complex fashion. Hopefully, he would just focus on the major players of Westeros. This will not only speed up his writing but also ensure the remaining storylines will be properly handled and brought together to a satisfying ending.

3 Author Must Pause Side Projects & Prioritize Book’s Completion

One of the most effective ways Martin can get his book out there as soon as possible is when he finally puts his side projects to the back burner and fully devotes his time to writing. The author had been very busy attending conventions and doing other side quests, much to fans’ dismay.

By pausing on these commitments, he would not only reduce the pressure on himself but also eliminate the distractions competing for his time. The effort and energy currently devoted to his side projects could then be redirected toward completing the final two books.

2 Narrow the Scope & Transfer the Rest to A Dream of Spring

Martin did this before in A Dance With Dragons, and he could do it again. The manuscript for The Winds of Winter is already too long, and it may be more practical for him to narrow down the plot and shift some remaining material into A Dream of Spring.

Since fans are not expecting the full conclusion of the story yet, ending on a cliffhanger would still be acceptable if it allows the narrative to be completed and published more efficiently. This trade-off is still worth it since it finally gets the book into readers’ hands.

1 Tighten Process & Meet Deadline Via Strong Editorial Supervision

The most effective and efficient way to help Martin finish the book may be to bring in a new editor who would enforce stricter guidelines not only around deadlines but also throughout the writing process itself. Having an external control could reinforce greater discipline and accountability on the author’s part, directly addressing one of the reasons why the project remains delayed.

While this might feel a little bit restrictive, it might be what is needed after all to transform the book into its published form. Indeed, this is what we think would solve Martin’s problem that’s been plaguing him for 15 years!

Approach	How It Speeds Up TWOW‘s Release
Use AI as a Continuity & Research Support	Help the author keep tabs on characters, plots, and timelines
Divide & Release in Two Parts	Reduce the pressure of completing one long book
Bring In a Co-Author or Story Consultant	Check continuity and assist in organizing storylines
Revisit the Original Outline	Refocus on core plot points and eliminate unnecessary side stories
No More New Characters	Remove side characters with no meaningful contribution to the central conflict
Pause Side Projects	Fully devote time to writing and eliminate distractions
Narrow the Scope and Transfer Materials to A Dream of Spring	Reduce page count and expedite publication
Reinforce Strong Editorial Supervision	Implement stricter guidelines and deadlines

Here is a quick FAQ guide for you:

What other approaches could Martin take to get The Winds of Winter published as soon as next year? Let us know in the comments!