George R.R. Martin avoids online fan theories to prevent them from influencing his work. By staying away from these ideas, he can maintain his creative freedom and write more efficiently, ultimately speeding up the process for his highly anticipated book, Winds of Winter.
Outline
- More than ten years have passed since George R.R. Martin began writing The Winds of Winter, yet the book remains far from complete.
- To avoid being unintentionally inspired by fan theories, the author stays away from online forums.
- While certain fan theories could help Martin come up with fresh ideas, his busy schedule prevents him from sitting down to write.
Waiting for George R.R. Martin to release The Winds of Winter, his highly anticipated sixth book, feels like it has taken decades. The book has been in development since around 2010, and Martin continues to work on it while managing several other projects. As fans await its completion, many are left speculating about how the plot will unfold and whether it will differ from HBO’s Game of Thrones. However, Martin avoids fan forums where these rumors are commonly shared to prevent them from influencing his work.
George R.R. Martin Skips Fan Theories on the Internet
George R.R. Martin has acknowledged that he avoids visiting online fan forums due to concerns that someone might uncover the secrets of his novel. To prevent being influenced by other people’s ideas, he intentionally stays away from them.
In a Google Talks interview, Martin shared that back in the mid-1990s, he would read every fan theory posted on internet forums. However, he soon realized that this habit was starting to affect his work.
He explained, “What if they’re speculating on the details I haven’t yet revealed? What if their guesses are accurate? How does that affect me? Should I change my story because they’ve figured it out? Or should I ignore it and continue as planned? What if their ideas are better than mine? Should I steal them?”
To avoid these temptations, Martin made a conscious decision to stay away from fan forums. Despite this, he still receives hundreds of letters and requests for public appearances related to his novels. Martin admits that he is aware of some current fan theories but works hard not to let them influence his writing.
This self-imposed restriction has been part of Martin’s writing process for years, and many consider it an effective way to maintain the integrity of his work. In fact, changing his story based on public opinion could have unintended consequences and potentially harm the franchise.
The Winds of Winter Would Be Finished by Now If George R.R. Martin Bent His Rule
George R.R. Martin often expresses how challenging it has been to finish The Winds of Winter. His busy schedule, filled with various responsibilities, leaves him little time to sit down and develop the plot to complete the book.
Many online fan theories are quite logical, and some of these speculations would fit perfectly into the storyline. If Martin allowed himself to read a few of them, his progress on the book could likely speed up. However, fans must respect Martin’s commitment to his principles, as he continues to live by the values he sets for himself.
