Tall poppies

So a while ago I was reading On Writing by Stephen King, and I came across a quote that's really stuck with me since... and not in a good way.

"...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."

I suppose this is meant to be encouraging - telling people they can, with an existing supply of talent, go from being merely competent at writing to being good. To me, though, it seems kind of suppressing. Feels like King is saying that hard work comes eternally second to natural talent. And what qualifies a writer as 'great?' I've always thought that title came from other people giving it to you, rather than being quantifiable.

I like reading books by great writers, and I dream of one day joining them on that level. But now this has me worried that I can never attain that dream, because I'm just not talented enough. It's disheartening.

I don't know. Maybe I'm just paranoid. What do you guys think?