Yes, you can dry them on your countertop, but @Pied_Pfeffer nailed it. Hanging is better. In fact, if you are looking to dry a lot of herbs and want to do it in a hurry, I saw a trick on one of the cooking channel shows that would work. Get a box fan (square floor model) and some vent filters like you might use on your home ventilation system. Lay out your herbs on the filter(s), cover them with another filter (to hold them in place), and tape the whole thing onto the fan. Turn it on and there you go. It is the air flow that dries the herbs best. They say beef jerky can be made this way as well, though I have not tried it.