“I might be faster if I did”: George R.R. Martin Utterly Disregarding 1 Proven Writing Technique Is Why ‘Winds of Winter’ Is Far From Finished After 14 Years

SUMMARY

• George R.R. Martin's The Winds of Winter remains unfinished despite starting his draft around 2010.
• The author revealed his dislike for book outlines, a way to efficiently guide writers in making progress with their novels.
• Martin claims to be the type of writer who prefers his story to evolve organically rather than having a structured plot.

George R.R. Martin has not provided fans with a new update on The Winds of Winter, and we may have figured out why it takes him so long. The author, known for creating A Song of Ice and Fire series, revealed in an old interview his own writing style that sets him apart from other fellow writers.

George R.R. Martin in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert / Credits: YouTube

Every author has a distinct writing practice that helps them accomplish their personal goals when it comes to making progress in their novels. Some pledge to write one chapter a day, others see to it that they produce a couple of pages within a certain frame of time. Having a structure also helps them ensure that they are on track – something that Martin refuses to follow.

George R.R. Martin is not a fan of making book outlines

The latest update on George R.R. Martin’s The Winds of Winter was shared on his website, Not a Blog, last September with the author stating he managed to produce “some new pages” although he hoped to have written more. In December, he revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he might never finish the book although it remains a top priority.

He started drafting the novel around 2010, which was even before Game of Thrones premiered on television. Fourteen years later, the novel is nowhere near finished. Martin said in his blog that he’s caught up in several movie and television projects which consume most of his time.

George R.R. Martin / Credits: CBS News

While this is a viable reason as to why he hasn’t produced The Winds of Winter, it could also be because he does not have an outline of the story, hence he has a vague idea of how the story would unfold. Martin prefers his narrative to evolve organically. In an interview with the Library of Congress: National Book Festival, he revealed he does not make outlines for his books.

I don’t have a formal outline. I’m not one of these writers who outlines every—what’s gonna be in every scene, what’s gonna be in every chapter. I might be faster if I did.

There, he said it – he might have finished his sixth novel had he kept an outline and used it to guide his writing. He complained that having an outline takes away the spontaneity. He used to write one when he was working as a scriptwriter and he hated it because it felt like he’s telling the story twice: one in shorthand and one in long form.

The Winds of Winter suffers from George R.R. Martin’s refusal to outline

George R.R. Martin via TIFF Originals / Credits: YouTube

Martin explained that he’s not the architect type of writer – pretty much the kind who already has a vision of the final structure he wants to make. He’s more of a gardener, as he explained in one of his blog entries: “My stories grow and evolve and change as I write them.”

While he claims that all of the stories and characters are inside his head, human memory isn’t entirely reliable. We forget things, and that’s why some of us keep journals and planners. Martin’s refusal to build an outline for his novels, a writing practice that has been proven to be effective and efficient, already manifests the evident consequences.

Written by Ariane Cruz

Articles Published: 2845

Ariane Cruz, Senior Writer. She has been contributing articles for FandomWire since 2021, mostly covering stories about the latest movies and series. With a degree in Communication Arts, she has an in-depth knowledge of print and broadcast journalism. Her other works can also be seen on Screen Rant and CBR.