Back in 1996, almost 20 years after he published his first novel, George R.R. Martin released A Game of Thrones, the opening book in the world-famous series A Song of Ice and Fire.
After persevering through numerous setbacks, empty book launch events, low book sales, and rejected TV scripts, this book would change the course of Martin’s career. And create millions of new fantasy fans in the process.
But how did this writer of dragons, blood magic, and the deadly politics of royalty become a household name? What is his writing process? And what can aspiring authors learn from him?
Here are 3 ways to write like George R.R. Martin.
1. Go Old School with Your Writing Process
On February 17, 2011, Martin took to his “Not a blog” on LiveJournal to say, “So here's the thing. I am a dinosaur, as all my friends will tell you. A man of the 20th century, not the 21st.”
Not entirely surprising for a historical fantasy writer. But he goes on to explain in this entry that he uses an old DOS machine and a WordStar 4.0 word processor to write. Martin’s process may well have changed since 2011. Maybe not. But even back then, there was a method to his bygone-tech madness.
To this day, Martin doesn’t go on social media. Other people manage his authorized profiles and his website. By not being chronically online and using an ancient word processor with no internet access, Martin blocks out distractions and, above all, keeps it simple. This undoubtedly helps him get into the flow state needed to be a successful author.
If the thought of using a pre-internet computer reliant on temperamental disk drives sends you into a cold sweat, there are other ways to reap the benefits of an analog writing process. Try drafting on a Freewrite for a distraction-free experience — but with the added security of in-device and cloud backup. It’s time to unlock your pre-dial-up-internet levels of writing productivity.
It’s time to unlock your pre-dial-up-internet levels of writing productivity.
2. Write Like a Gardener
A Song of Ice and Fire contains over 1,770,000 words. With so much complex world-building, character development, and weaving plot lines, you’d probably expect Martin to be a ferocious plotter. Surprisingly, he isn’t. He’s a pantser. Or, as he calls it, a “gardener.”
In an interview with Museum of Pop Culture, Martin says, “I know for some writers, they do the world-building before they even start the story.” He calls these writers architects. “But that’s certainly not me.”
The story that inspired his most famous series began with Martin’s vision of the Starks finding the dire wolf pups in the summer snows. Intrigued by “summer” snows, he continued writing and fleshing out Westeros through “a process of filling in.”
It's a little technique that we call freewriting around here.
A Song of Ice and Fire contains over 1,770,000 words ... you’d probably expect Martin to be a ferocious plotter. Surprisingly, he isn’t. He’s a pantser. Or, as he calls it, a “gardener.”
“I know where I’m starting from, I know where I want to end up, more or less,” Martin said in an interview with TIME. But still “there’s always that process of discovery for me. I know not all writers work that way, but it’s always been the way I work.”
Freewriting, or being a gardener, in Martin’s parlance, means planting the seeds of a story and letting them grow naturally. In broad strokes, a gardener knows where their story is going but they build the world and plot as they write, not before. Martin views this method as being more organic because it allows the story to take unexpected turns.
If you truly want to try writing like George R.R. Martin, embrace freewriting. Be a gardener. And leave your plotting techniques, character profiles, and screeds of detailed notes at the door.
In broad strokes, a gardener knows where their story is going but they build the world and plot as they write, not before. Martin views this method as being more organic because it allows the story to take unexpected turns.
3. Embrace the Struggle and the Slumps
Even though he’s prolific, having published over 20 epic novels with eye-watering word counts, Martin says, “I’ve always been a slow writer.” (Fans of his books know this all too well.) And Martin freely admits there are days he hates writing.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he says, “I try to put it on the page and it feels stiff and wooden and it's stupid. Writing is hard work.”
If even Martin thinks his first drafts are trash, surely there’s hope for us all.
So, to write like one of the world’s biggest fantasy authors, you should:
- Create your own writing process and don’t force yourself into strict, prescribed routines that don’t work for you. Every writer is different.
- Remember: you don’t have to be super fast to be productive. No matter how long it takes you to get there, keep writing.
- Don’t beat yourself up for hating the process sometimes. We expect writers to always love the act of writing. The reality is different — and that’s okay. It can be a tough gig.
And, George, in the unlikely event that you’re reading this, please give the people what they want and announce a release date for The Winds of Winter.
