What is creative freedom?

Creative freedom refers to the ability to express oneself through art or work without restrictions imposed by others. Specifically, in the context of writing, Hugh Howey described creative freedom as the advantage of self-publishing, which allowed him to pursue a variety of genres without a publisher's constraints that often focus on marketability. This route provided him with control over his work and the option to explore different kinds of stories, such as transitioning from a Young Adult Space Opera to an adult Dystopian novel, something he believes might not have been possible with traditional publishing 1.