eyez, I have read that - but only remember it in a general way, would you be kind enough to explain further what you mean and how the King book demonstrates your point?
Stephen King says there are four groups to a pyramid, in pg. 135 of "On Writing." The lowest--the one at the very bottom--are the bad writers, who can't write for sh*t. Above that are the competent writers, who write wooden dailouges, stilted characters and plot, but understand, that alothough a lesbian may be angry, her breasts will remain breasts. Then on top of that are the good writers--which King includes himself. At the very top of the very first level are the geniuses--Shakespeares, the Faulkners, the Yeatses, Shaws, and Eudora Weltys--divine accidents, gifted in a way we can't understand.
And King goes on to say, "While it is impossible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer, and while it is equally impossible to make a great writer out of a good one, it
is possible, with lots of hard work, dedication, and timely help, to make a good writer out of a merely competent one." And King continues to explain why this idea is rejected by most critics.
Also, in pg. 178, you can plainly see:
"
As with all other aspects of the narrative art, you will improve with practice, but practice will never make you perfect. Why should it? What fun would that be? And the harder you try to be clear and simple, the more you will learn about the complexitiy of our American dialect. It be slipper, precious; eye, it be very slippery indeed. Practice the art, always reminding yourself that your job is to say what you see, and tell the story."
