Sanderson Defends George R.R. Martin's Winds of Winter Delay

Take it easy on George R.R. Martin, says Brandon Sanderson. The bestselling fantasy author, known for his relentless output, told Collider at FanX Salt Lake (as reported by Screen Rant) that Martin deserves empathy, not criticism, for the 15-year wait for The Winds of Winter.

Sanderson is famous for publishing book after book across multiple series. That consistency leads fans to compare his pace with Martin's. But Sanderson pushed back on the idea that he's some kind of writing machine. His own approach, he says, is just 'slow and steady' — a daily grind that suits his personality. Not every writer works that way.

Martin started The Winds of Winter right after A Dance with Dragons came out in 2011. Since then, Game of Thrones exploded into a global TV phenomenon, Martin got pulled into spinoffs like House of the Dragon, and the pressure on him grew enormous. Sanderson argues that treating an author like a product factory ignores the human reality.

Sanderson also pointed to mental health. Some of his writer friends have dealt with serious challenges, and he's seen it in his own family. Combine that with millions of fans watching every move Martin makes, and the anticipation can become a weight that slows things down even more.

None of that erases the frustration of waiting for Jon Snow, Daenerys, Tyrion and the rest. But Sanderson's message is simple: Martin is a person, not a machine. Cut him some slack.

• Brandon Sanderson
• FanX Salt Lake
• Game of Thrones
• George R.R. Martin
• The Winds of Winter