Can Stephen King teach an old writing dog new writing tricks?

I recently read Mr Mercedes by Stephen King and I found it both brilliant and depressing. Brilliant because it’s a terrific book: strong characterisation, rich and rhythmic language, deft pacing, clarity and so on. And depressing because it’s a terrific book: strong characterisation, rich and rhythmic language – you get the picture.

Let me explain. Most of the time, whether it’s a book, film or TV show, I see the flaws, the joins, bits that were added as an afterthought and ways that the piece...