George R.R. Martin Won't Be Writing for That Game of Thrones Prequel Anytime Soon

If you're experiencing whiplash over all the Game of Thrones news from the last few days, brace yourself. George R.R. Martin has spoken up following the news that HBO was shelving its first Game of Thrones prequel series but giving the green light to Targaryen prequel House of the Dragon, based in part on Martin's Fire and Blood book.

In a blog posted yesterday, Martin said he will not be writing any episodes of House of the Dragon until he has finished working on The Winds of Winter, the long-awaited next novel in his A Song of Ice and Fire series. "I expect to be involved in all of this to some extent... and, who knows, if things work out, I may even be able to script a few episodes, as I did for the first four seasons of Game of Thrones," he wrote. "But...let me make this perfectly clear... I am not taking on any scripts until I have finished and delivered Winds of Winter. Winter is still coming, and Winds remains my priority, as much as I'd love to write an episodes of House."

Game of Thrones Targaryen Prequel Series, House of the Dragon, Is Coming to HBO

Martin added that fans who want to prepare for the new series should check out Fire and Blood as well as his contributions to the anthology booksDangerous Women andRogues.

As for the news that HBO has scrapped the first would-be prequel series, which he lovingly dubbed The Long Night, Martin still thinks there's room for more than one Game of Thrones spin-off on TV. "It goes without saying that I was saddened to hear the show would not be going to series. Jane Goldman is a terrific screenwriter, and I enjoyed brainstorming with her," he wrote. "I do not know why HBO decided not to go to series on this one, but I do not think it had to do with House of the Dragon. This was never an either/or situation. If television has room enough for multiple CSIs and Chicago shows... well, Westeros and Essos are a lot bigger, with thousands of years of history and enough tales and legends and characters for a dozen shows."

House of the Dragon has been given a straight-to-series order and will tell the story of House Targaryen 300 years before we came to know its few surviving members in Game of Thrones. The show is co-created by Martin and executive producer Ryan Condal, and the pilot and other episodes will be directed by Thrones favorite Miguel Sapochnik, who will also serve as co-showrunner on the series alongside Condal.

No premiere date has been set for House of the Dragon.

PHOTOS: The Ultimate Game of Thrones Holiday Gift Guide