I'm with Nora Roberts on this one. She said:
"If you need to believe in the muse, let's say, fine and dandy. Whatever works for you. But don't tell me you can't work today because the muse has left you. Go track down that fickle slut, drag her back, chain her to your keyboard and get to work!"
and
"I don't believe in waiting for inspiration. It's my job to sit down and figure out what to write. I think if you wait for "the muse" you may wait a very long time."
(As of Feb. 2010, Nora has published 190 full-length novels.)
Source:
http://www.noraroberts.com/aboutnora/funfacts.html
Chicki