When HBO show Game of Thrones was brought to an end the events of the final few episodes were criticised. This occurred after the series overtook the book series it was based on. The writers – David Benioff and DB Weiss – wrote their own ending with some help from the series’ creator, George RR Martin. The writer himself has now spoken out about this situation.

Fans have been waiting for the sixth book in the series, Winds of Winter, for over ten years, but GRRM recently admitted he wished he had stepped up his writing speed.

Speaking to WTTW Chicago, Martin said: “Looking back, I wish I’d stayed ahead of the books.

“My biggest issue there was when they began the [TV] series, I had four books already in print, and the fifth one came out just as the series was starting in 2011.”

The fifth book, A Dance with Dragons, was released in 2011 and was the author’s longest book to date, coming in at more than 1,300 pages.

READ MORE: George RR Martin promises ‘different’ ending ahead of Winds Of Winter

Martin recalled: “I had a five-book head-start, and these are gigantic books, as you know.

“I never thought they would catch up with me, but they did.”

He went on: “They caught up with me and passed me. That made it a little strange.”

What do you think? Should George RR Martin have planned ahead? Join the debate in the comments section here

Martin went on: “I have bad days, which get me down, and good days, which lift me up, but all in all I am pleased with the way things are doing.

“Way way back in 1999, when I was deep in the writing of A Storm of Swords, I was averaging about 150 pages of manuscript a month. I fear I shall never recapture that pace again.”

He solemnly added: “Looking back, I am not sure how I did it then.”

In the meantime, fans will be seeing the next project from Martin in the next year.

Martin is working alongside video game company FromSoftware on their new game, Elden Ring.

The author is writing the content for the game, which has been wrapped up in mystery for some time.

Last month it was announced Elden Ring would be released on January 21, 2022.

Winds of Winter does not have a release date.