George R.R. Martin Says He Listens to Critics – Especially When They Talk About the Small Folk

At NYCC 2025, George R.R. Martin surprised fans by admitting that some criticism has genuinely influenced his writing. “Believe it or not, occasionally we do listen to some critics if they know what they’re talking about,” he said. One recurring critique that resonated with him? The lack of stories about ordinary people in fantasy. “Nobody ever writes about the common people, the small folk, as I call them. That resonated with me.”

Quick read:

• Martin says he listens to critics who highlight the lack of stories about common people.
• His working-class roots inspired him to focus more on “small folk” in his writing.
• That feedback shaped stories like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Why Martin Writes for the Small Folk, Not Just the Lords

George R. R. Martin’s fantasy worlds may be filled with kings and dragons, but his heart lies with the underdogs. “I am not actually a lord. And I’m not even a knight,” he joked. “My father was a longshoreman… my mother worked for Maidenform… I lived in the projects.” That working-class upbringing in Bayonne, New Jersey, shaped his perspective—and his desire to spotlight characters who aren’t born into power. It’s why Dunk & Egg, the humble hedge knight and his squire, resonate so deeply with him.

Criticism That Sparks Creativity

Martin’s candid reflections show that thoughtful feedback can lead to richer storytelling. “Here it is, another fantasy, and we get to hear more about kings and lords. And Lords & Kings. And King of Lourdes,” he quipped. But it’s the small folk—those without titles or dragons—that now drive some of his most beloved stories. His openness to critique, paired with his grounded upbringing, continues to shape the emotional core of Westeros.

In a genre often obsessed with royalty, Martin’s focus on the forgotten voices proves that fantasy doesn’t need a crown to be compelling.

Quick read: George R.R.Martin on which Game of Thrones characters he’d like to see in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms