A popular author....

[Paul Whybrow]

​

A popular author is one who writes what the people think. Genius invites them to think something else.
Ambrose Bierce

 

[Hannah F]

The two are not mutually exclusive.

 

[Steve C]

I don't think the word genius is relevant to writers. Not all good writers have a higher than average IQ. What they do have is a gift for empathy and bringing it out in readers.

 

[RK Capps]

I don't think the word genius is relevant to writers. Not all good writers have a higher than average IQ. What they do have is a gift for empathy and bringing it out in readers.

I didn't take him to mean writers have to be geniuses, but "it is genius to invite readers to think something else." Writers don't need to be geniuses to do this, but it is genius to do it. Maybe I'm being too kind (he does look pompous enough!), but that's how I can glean use out of the above quote