Activities involved before people generate their creative ideas were examined by employing a qualitative method. Twenty graduate students and scholars were interviewed. Three main activities were identified by content analysis: accumulating ideas; integrating ideas; and communicating ideas. These activities showed dynamic interactions during the process. The activities of accumulating and integrating ideas were found in some creativity models. This supports the ideas that creativity includes both generality and specificity and that creativity assessment varies by methods and contexts. Although communication is an important activity, creative ideas are also generated by individual themselves. It confirms that the process of generating creative ideas includes individual efforts and social interactions. However, further research is needed regarding early cycle activities in other contexts and activities in late cycle creative processes.