Can be creative; novel, perhaps (4)
I believe the answer is:
work
'novel perhaps' is the definition.
(I know that novel is a publication)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for work that I've seen before include "Function; have a job" , "Occupation" , "Labour" , "Operate" , "Anything made or done" .)