Some consumption is probably necessary for creativity. You need to bring some things outside the world into yourself, or your ideas will feel made-up and phony.

Some consumption is probably necessary for creativity. You need to bring some things outside the world into yourself, or your ideas will feel made-up and phony. I make art, usually abstract or surrealist art. One of the things I try to tell others is to get out of their head. Learn things, read books, and so on. It is all definitely tied to creativity. After all, the more ideas one has to pull from the more creative folks can be. If all you have is romance novels and stories - or religious material, or any other one subject for that matter - your output is probably going to reflect these things. In all reality, in physical art and music, direct copies are often learning experiences. It isn't much different than taking a toaster apart and putting it back together again, really, or taking it apart to build one you design. Putting any twist on the art does what you say, though.