Why George R. R. Martin Doesn't Write Anymore

Why is George R.R. Martin no longer writing? In today's video, we will review George R.R. Martin's two recent blog posts (one was deleted,) and his excuses for not writing. If we are going to create a literary renaissance, we can NOT get caught in the same traps Martin is in.

[doronaznible]

Martin complaining about being unable to write because ‘fascism is making him anxious’, meanwhile you have Tolkien literally fighting in the Somme.

[thepiratelifeforme]

I was defending martin's time spent on writing his upcoming book, since It's something I thought he cared about writing and wanting to get right. Then I saw him complain about fascism as why he couldn't write, and now I no longer care if he shits it out tomorrow or it languishes in his skull till the day he dies, because he clearly cares more about politics than finishing what could've been a fantastic book series. Modern politics is absolute poison for the soul.

[stevenbelarde]

He's rolling in that Game Of Thrones money🤑

[JasonFuhrman]

I know this is total speculation, but I really don't think it has anything to do with his deleted blog post. I think it has everything to do with the fact that he's so embedded with TV projects that they are the new shiny things that are more than him sitting alone in front of a computer trying to make sense of how to move forward with the books.

I'm not discounting that the political climate might dampen his mood, but I just think it's an excuse because it's a topic people can relate to, and he doesn't want to state the real reason: "Hey, I'm kinda bored with writing these tomes, and honestly it's become to complex and I'm out of touch with it having been away for so long (plus, if I never finish I'll never disappoint anyone with a bad ending), and what I'm really enjoying now is working on adapting my works to TV."

[austinquick]

His legacy is not resting on Winds of Winter.. its resting on the book after that, which we will probably never see. i dont care what anyone says, or thinks. He can do better. He is just resting on his laurels because things are good for him. He's already made it. and its literally as simple as that. otherwise, he would be more communitive and transparent with the pestering community around him.

[purpleporygon]

Tolkien lived to write. Martin writes to live. And that's totally fine.

Those are harsh words to many of us, but I do not know if I would fare any better in Martin's shoes. I doubt I would.

[michaelirwin]

It kills me because hes the best writer ive ever read, asoiaf even unfinished is such kino timeless shit

[croinkix]

In a recent conversation he was supposed to have with Philip Pullman (who couldn't make it) Martin talked about how he used to be in a writing group with some authors in chicago back in the 70s including. Algis Budrys and Gene Wolfe. Martin mentions how, despite having a full-time job, Wolfe was able to write Book Of The New Sun in 6 years. Martin talked about how Wolfe had a full-time job as an editor for the Engineering Magazine, but would write on weekends. Meanwhile, back then, Martin wasn't able to do that since he supported himself purely through writing. Watching your video makes me wonder "well what about now?"

[andreasboe]

Martin is 76 years old. Tolkien was half that age when he wrote about the ring, so I think it's unfair to compare the two.

[pipe_currency]

I don't worry about politics too much. My biggest hurdle as a writer is that I am not willing to put in the hours and hard work. I just want results now, which is terrible, I realize.

[nont]

I strongly believe that GoT ending is the true ending that George gave to D&D but because he saw the backlash from the fans, he panicked and had to rewrite the whole thing which made his procrastination even worse and he had to come up with countless excuse to cover up his own abysmal work ethic.

[IlyenaL]

excellent video. i think it’s essential for artists to realize we are far less important than our art. we are conduits for beauty and truth, not their creators. when you internalize this it’s extremely humbling and invigorating, when you lose track of this it’s paralyzing, it cultivates neurotic thinking and narcissism

[rad]

Small correction: David Foster Wallace spent over a decade working on The Pale King, which was released posthumously. Infinite Jest took him three years to finish.

[P]

Hey! Love your channel and the amazing work you’re doing getting REAL literature education out there, stripped of the political garbage. I’m a military vet and wrote a book (not a genre type book, actual literature attempt). I wrote a bit in university, and loved it - and a professor wanted me to commit to writing as a career, but 9/11 happened and unfortunately I left school behind to go. I got roughed up, but survived. I can’t work anymore but I have a wife and kids and have more than I deserve and feel lucky most days. I did put my all into my book with only the muscle memory of my writing from a couple decades ago (and lots of reading and instruction books) and finished it. I shocked a few people with how good they thought it was. I went through the submission process to agents (200+ rejections lol) - but I didn’t really think anyone in the publishing industry would be interested in a 40ish yr old white guys’ fiction. I don’t fit the ‘look’ they want today lol.
But I am actually grateful no one wanted to pick up my current story because watching your videos has me pumped to pour more effort, make better revisions, and really push it farther than I thought it could be. Your videos clicked something in me that really made me feel like I did years ago first writing, before life hit me like a sludge hammer, and i feel like I ‘got my swing’ back. Just wanted you to know your work is appreciated and I’m taking your enthusiasm to push myself back on track with my writing - that will likely never get published lol. But I don’t really care about the publishing/money/recognition - some of the greatest died as bums and nobodies. The story is what counts and that you put everything on the page that talent, effort and fate allows. A man can die happy with his head held high as a failure that at least took a swing with everything he had. Better than sitting on the bench criticizing the ones who dared to play. Thanks again and please keep the videos coming.

[HyperRealitySuperFun]

I think the fame got to GRRM. It's too much pressure. Same thing with the door of stone author.

[DarksideGmss]

I don't think politics really has anything to do with it. To me I believe it's that he's just been so wrapped up in all the other projects that he's working on that he hasn't had time to really go back and sit down and actually write his other books which is what he really should be doing.

[ethageniusgwent]

Love to see you talking about some more mainstream fiction. I am getting into DFW, Pynchon, and Vollmann thanks to you, (found you through Cormac, ) but it's nice to see you discuss an author I'm already familiar with. It will bring new eyes to the channel.

[jankurth]

Following Sartre, I do think there are times when the artist does need to be engaged with politics, and doesn't really have the luxury of "transcending" it. Especially when the choice is stark: Collaborate with the Nazis or join the resistance. The same could be said for a lot of South American writers who lived under brutal dictatorships, or writers under Stalin or Pol Pot, situations where writers were truly in danger of being jailed, murdered, or "disappeared." However, Sartre was kind of an idiot in terms of his post-war politics, and managed to get sucked into supporting a lot of dubious causes rather than writing more novels or works of philosophy. So you have a point there.

[cavalieroutdoors]

Reality: George has 'eff you' money and no need to write anything ever again. It's more comfortable to spend the golden years sipping alcohol on a beach than it is to be writing a book. And I don't necessarily hold that against him.

[BarbershopBytes-oxdr]

ASOIAF isn't his real work. TUF VOYAGING is his real work.

Asoiaf is good in parts really great in others. But I think Tuf is his love.

I think the love is missing. He has financial pressure on him and its crushing his passion.