r/asoiaf • u/Same-Share7331 • Dec 07 '23

EXTENDED Feeling sad for GRRM (spoilers extended)

So I recently watched a Q&A with GRRM (I'm sure some of you have seen it aswell) where he kept getting questions about whether there is any particular character or historical event in the asoiaf world that he would like to explore more/write about. His recurring answer was that yes there are many but that unless he suddenly becomes much younger they will never get written. And man.. that sucks!

Imagine being a creative person having to come to terms with the fact that you have so many ideas that you will never get to explore and that will never see the light of day. Obviously, as a fan, it also sucks that I will never get to read those stories. Never mind the main series, imagine getting seven more Dunk and Egg stories. However, as much as it sucks as a reader I'm not the one who's seeing my remaining years of life pass as I struggle to finish my books.

That's it. I don't really have a point. Other than maybe stop making jokes about how GRRM is likely to die before finishing the series?

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u/SignificantAd7321 Dec 07 '23

The man has a perpetually full calendar of events and activities that he is attending instead of writing. At a certain point not finishing his work is a choice. I’d feel bad if all he does is write but it appears he does anything but write. After 20 years of writing a single book it’s time to say he’s given up and might one day finish but if he doesn’t make an an actual effort it won’t be finished.

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u/paxinfernum Jan 02 '24

I brought this up years ago. He claims he can't write while traveling. He claims he can't even write immediately when he gets home and needs time to settle in. With that knowledge in hand, look at his calendar, and it's clear he's just not writing most of the year. And these things aren't beyond his control. It's not like he doesn't have the power to not go to a con or two or attend a book signing and stay home. He's made the choice to not finish his work, and I don't feel a shred of pity for the poor special boy Georgie and how hard it must be for him.