The difficult part of creating art is not painting an accurate representation of the subject — almost anyone can do that with practice — but communicating how you feel about the subject matter. That goes for writing novels just as it does for painting or creating sculptures. Working in close connection with one’s imagination, and creating out of that connection, takes time and effort. It needs nurturing. It is crucial to be writing or painting about a subject that has some deep emotional significance to the author or painter.