He published A Storm of Swords in 2000 then it wasn’t until 2005 that A Feast for Crows came out. When it was published, half of the POVs were cut because the book was too big to be published and he said the next book containing the cut POVs would be published in six months. Then six years later A Dance with Dragons was finally published, and it was only published then because he cut the two big battles (Mereen and Winterfell). Now we are coming up on 12 years since that book and he’s still not close to being finished with The Winds of Winter. I’m sure the show had an impact, but the pattern started long before the show was even in the works.

Then there’s the whole issue of the story still growing and expanding at the end of book 5 when it should be condensing with characters moving into position for the endgame. He’s built an interesting world but it’s clear he wants to keep world-building rather than focusing on the story he set out to tell.