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This study examines how changes between drawing inspiration from distant knowledge and focusing on local knowledge affect contributions in online communities. The research compares two theoretical frameworks for understanding knowledge generation: The tension-based view highlights the tensional perspective of initially engaging with distant knowledge before narrowing the focus to specific domains to foster creative behavior. Conversely, the foundational view posits that creative behavior requires local expertise before it is combined with insights from distant knowledge domains. We collected data from 15 Q&A forums hosted by Stack Exchange and used natural language processing to analyze users’ contributions and changes in interest. Our findings suggest that both theories explain knowledge generation. Individuals need to engage with more distant knowledge over time but also streamline their interests between local and distant knowledge domains to generate more valuable and novel contributions. The study enriches understanding of knowledge generation in online communities and offers insights into how to support creative individuals.