George R.R. Martin knows why he hasn’t been able to complete his “A Song of Fire and Ice” saga and it has nothing to do with writer’s block.
Martin attended the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival where his spoke to a crowd about his writing process, according to IndieWire. The “Game of Thrones” writer is currently working on his sixth installment “Winds of Winter”, which has taken him longer to complete than he would have liked.
"Writer's block isn't to blame here, it's distraction. In recent years, all of the work I've been doing creates problems because it creates distraction,” Martin explained. “Because the books and the show are so popular I have interviews to do constantly. I have travel plans constantly. It's like suddenly I get invited to travel to South Africa or Dubai, and who's passing up a free trip to Dubai?”
“I don't write when I travel. I don't write in hotel rooms. I don't write on airplanes. I really have to be in my own house undisturbed to write. Through most of my life no body did bother me, but now everyone bothers me every day. I have assistants and minions whose main job is to make sure people don't bother me so I can actually get writing done."
Martin is referencing the popularity of the hit HBO series “Game of Thrones.” Though he’s grateful for the success of the franchise, Martin is annoyed with the constant inquiries about the series and the dreaded “will you be able to finish before you die” question that pops up from time to time.
"I got pissed at one guy and gave him the middle finger when he asked that," Martin said, referring to the death question. "I really don't like that question. But honestly, I probably wouldn't have done that if I wasn't so tired from the preceding seven interviews."
Martin told the festival crowd he’s tired of having to answer the same questions about “Game of Thrones” over and over, according to IndieWire. The “A Song of Fire and Ice” author would prefer to stay home and work on his craft than have to answer questions about the show.
Fans will have to continue to wait a little bit longer for Martin to complete the “Winds of Winter”, but the writer recently spoke to the New York Post about his sixth installment.
Martin teased fans might get to know Jon Snow’s true paternity in the “Winds of Winter.”
“I’ve not finished ‘The Winds of Winter’ yet, so maybe in that book,” Martin told the NY Post, “but if not then definitely in the next book.”
