I take notes of ideas that pop up in my mind throughout the day and make general, big-picture plans for the story, but I do not create an outline before starting a new project. I prefer to simply write and allow the story to tell itself.
A simple desk with only my laptop on it.
Write at the same time everyday.
Only listen to music without lyrics. Noise-cancellation earbuds help.
Creativity is putting your imagination to work, and it's produced the most extraordinary results in human culture.