A lot of commotion about dull inspiration (8)
I believe the answer is:
afflatus
'inspiration' is the definition.
(afflatus is a kind of inspiration)
'a lot of commotion about dull' is the wordplay.
'lot of commotion' becomes 'fus' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'dull' becomes 'flat' (similar in meaning).
'fus' going around 'flat' is 'fflatus'.
'a'+'fflatus'='AFFLATUS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for afflatus that I've seen before include "Poet's creative impulse" , "inspiration" .)