Once you start rewriting, you’re not able to stop. With each draft the fundamental banality and worthlessness of the material becomes more evident even as its vitality and spontaneity are drained from it.

Ruthven surmised that he had hit upon some of the central deceptions which had wrecked him and reduced him and so many of his colleagues to this condition.
BARRY N. MALZBERG

Central Deception Reduce Self Some Years
Everything is blind chance, happenstance, occurrence; in an infinite universe anything can happen. After the fact we find reasons.
BARRY N. MALZBERG

Happen Infinite Reason
Nothing matters at all. Survival is the coin of the realm. Time is a river with banks.
BARRY N. MALZBERG

Coin Rivers Survival Truth
To surmise was not to conquer, of course; he was as helpless as ever but there was a dim liberation in seeing how he had been lied to, and he felt that at least he could take one thing from the terrible years through which he had come: he was free of self-delusion.
BARRY N. MALZBERG

Conquer Course Delusion Helpless Liberation Self Surmise
“Events,” I say to the Captain, “events control our lives, although we have no understanding of them nor do they have any motivation.
BARRY N. MALZBERG

Captains Motivation Understanding
Once you start rewriting, you’re not able to stop. With each draft the fundamental banality and worthlessness of the material becomes more evident even as its vitality and spontaneity are drained from it.
BARRY N. MALZBERG

Able Material Rewriting Vitality
There is no truth which cannot be given in fifty words; the truth is always concise.
BARRY N. MALZBERG

Concise Fifty Given Truth

More Barry N. Malzberg Quotes