I almost wrote some of the novelists (and poets) I follow, but then I wouldn't want to burden anyone with a list I feel would be name dropping and showing off (just my feeling is all).
Nonetheless, I do respect King (highly), and anyone who finishes one of his books. To me, it's like higher-level mathematics: I was horribly ill-equipped at grasping it, and could never figure out why. As a consequence, I remain immensely jealous of anyone who can perform it easily. Thus, mathematicians are thinkers who I most admire. But then I also admire those who follow rules, which is what mathematics is comprised of.
How does this flow into King? A strong rule of literature (as I see it), is honoring the author-reader contract where once the book is opened, the book is read all the way through. Oddly enough, this is also a rule of thumb in Hollywood. Having read countless scripts for countless potential productions, and having also talked to many others who have done the same - from agents, producers, directors all the way to assistants, my experience is every page gets read.
Like I said, this should be a literary rule, but in cases of style and theme, may not always be followed. Yes, the contract is broken (as I have with Mr. King), and I do admit my guilt in this. But I'm holding out hope to really give Mr. King my all very soon.
