George R. R. Martin Fans Are Officially Still Having the Wrong Debate About 'Winds of Winter'

Published Oct 17, 2026, 2:27 PM EDT

Kendall Myers is a Senior Author with Collider. As part of the TV and Movies Features team, she writes about some of the most popular releases before, during, and after they premiere. In three years, she has written over 900 articles with topics ranging from classic sitcoms to fantasy epics.

It's no secret that fans have been waiting for George R. R. Martin to release The Winds of Winter for years. In fact, it's been so long that they have run out of things to pick apart in his existing series and have started theorizing about why the book isn't yet complete. But while A Song of Ice and Fire readers descend into chaos, Brandon Sanderson's fans have plenty to read, especially since the author often releases multiple books in the same year.

Because these two authors write long, intricate series in the same genre, it's easy to fall into the trap of comparing them, especially when it comes to new releases or the lack thereof. However, this comparison isn't the convincing critique of The Winds of Winter's release timeline that many seem to think it is. The comparison has gone so far that even Sanderson has addressed it, and his comments are a good reminder that no two authors work the same way.

Comparing George R. R. Martin to Brandon Sanderson Misses the Point

With their similar careers and overlapping audiences, comparisons between Martin and Sanderson's release timelines are somewhat inevitable. Sanderson has long been praised for his prolific writing habits, but he revealed that there is more to the story. Recently, at FanX Salt Lake, Sanderson discussed the distinction between himself and Martin, saying, "I'm not really fast. I'm really steady, and that's not because of anything about me. It's just I was born with a psychology that is good at getting up every day and doing a little bit."

Sanderson's consistency directs the pace of his stories, unlike other authors he mentions, including Martin, who rely on "powerful personal inspiration," which can be more challenging. No two authors adopt the same writing style, so naturally, Martin and Sanderson's processes are fundamentally different. In a recent blog post, Martin also gave fans honest insight into his life, and it hasn't been easy, with plenty of outside factors to slow him down. While fans are impatient for Martin to finish his series, it's important to realize that there is more going on than they are often made privy to.

George R. R. Martin's 'The Winds of Winter' Is Taking so Long for a Reason

Sanderson's comments aren't a criticism of Martin's pace. Instead, his reference to "writer friends" who need inspiration highlights exactly why The Winds of Winter can't and shouldn't be rushed. As ready as fans are, they don't just want another book; they want another good book. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series stands as proof that his process allows him to create his best work, and making any major change now would be risky. The pressure is higher than ever, and writing the next book that the series deserves isn't something to rush.

Fans don't want a half-baked continuation. In fact, many still hope for the epic, satisfying ending that HBO's adaptation of Game of Thrones didn't deliver. In the wake of that much-discussed final season, The Winds of Winter's release has become even more anticipated, especially since readers are desperate to know whether their favorite characters will survive this version of the story. But as frustrating as it is to wait with no sense of when the book will be published, constantly putting Martin down by comparing him to other authors with different methods is pointless. What one author does has nothing to do with another, and Sanderson's publication pace shouldn't be used to shame Martin's timeline.