When it comes to art, you might think that writing a young adult novel and sculpting a masterpiece are two quite different processes. But as I'm slaving over the second story about Sparrow Righton, First Daughter, this description by a sculptor written in 1540 provided some encouragement:
For this work, a violent and continuous straining of all a man's strength is required, which brings great harm to his body and holds many definite dangers to his life. In addition, this art holds the mind of the artificer in suspense and fear regarding its outcome and keeps his spirit disturbed and almost continually anxious ... But, with all this, it is a profitable and skillful art and in large part delightful.Source: V. Biringuccio, "The Bronze Founder," in La Pirotechnia (Venice, 1540).