Completely agree about creativity being work. Fill the mind up and then get ready to work, really work. Muse? I may talk about my muse but she/it/he isn’t going to do the work. I do it.
I am a Christian Gnostic so much my inspiration comes from what I believe & experience of the Divine ONE , God. I read a great deal when I have the time. I find mythology and spiritual & religious history gives me many images to work with creatively – almost like filling a tank up with gasoline. I work with what I call “Images” — perhaps archetypes is a better word when I write – I love the Tarot for this reason for it gives a framework to hang the universe upon, a warp and weft to the patterns of life.

For me, creativity is a spiritual exercise like praying and meditating. I believe that St. Paul got it right — fill your mind and heart with every good thing and only good will come from you. I do not mean that everything should be goodness and light because Gnosticism teaches that there must be balance between extreme forces, but that concentrating on what is good inspires the soul to seek the Divine ONE and in our creative ventures we become more and more like our Father/Mother creator – which is the whole point of both mysticism and spirituality, isn’t it?

I also believe that computers are going to be of massive importance to future creativity… I am now a rather older woman but I am endeavoring to continue my education in every field of knowledge and my home computer is really my window and chief tool to access knowledge, also the computer can be, itself, a wellspring of creative chance and challenge. Look at the Free program, Gimp, or the Operating system Unbuntu Hardy Heron if you don’t understand what I mean