The world already knows that George R.R. Martin isn't exactly a fast writer. However, the A Song of Ice and Fire author has just admitted that Game of Thrones actually impeded his progress in finishing the sixth book The Winds of Winter.
Martin recently spoke to The Observer where he confessed that the HBO series has exactly been "very good for him" (via The Guardian). Interestingly, it seems like the novelist believes that Game of Thrones was the reason why he couldn't finish The Winds of Winter any sooner.
"I don't think [Game of Thrones] was very good for me," Martin said. "The very thing that should have speeded me up actually slowed me down. Every day I sat down to write and even if I had a good day … I'd feel terrible because I'd be thinking: ‘My God, I have to finish the book. I've only written four pages when I should have written 40.'"
Martin also addressed all those speculations about the book, stating that he would "let fans have their theories" but admitted that he doesn't want to deal with any more of those ideas online.
"I took myself out of all that ... some of [the theories] are right and some of [the theories] are wrong. They'll find out when I finish," Martin said.
Interestingly, Martin also confirmed that the endings of The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring will not be affected by the backlash to the controversial Game of Thrones final season.
"No, it doesn't. It doesn't change anything at all," he said. "You can't please everybody, so you've got to please yourself."
Now that Game of Thrones is over, people are certainly waiting for Martin to finish The Winds of Winter. Although it might not be that different from what happened in the series, there is little doubt that it will finally give fans the closure they need.
The Winds of Winter is expected to be released by July 2020.
Related: George R.R. Martin Says The Winds Of Winter Will Be Done By July 2020
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