# Alex Santoso, Founder of Neatorama (INTERVIEW) By Brian G Randles | Published 2009-11-20 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alex-santoso-interview References: [neatorama](http://www.neatorama.com/) Alex Santoso is the founder of the [addictive blog](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bloggso) Neatorama. Featuring a wide range of topics, as well as a shop that carries all things neat, Neatorama is a great place for getting lost in the Internet. Since Alex Santoso is on the cutting edge of blogging, we asked him a few questions about how he maintains that edge, and how he stays creative. 3 Questions with Alex Santoso **1. How do you keep your work on the cutting edge?** As a blogger, it’s part of my routine to look for new sources of stories and posts. I do this in two general ways: the first is good old fashioned browsing (following blog rolls, for example). This method is easy and fun, but it’s also very time consuming. The second method is technology driven: we created an [Upcoming Queue](http://www.neatorama.com/upcoming) to let people write their own posts on Neatorama. We’ve gotten some really good stories that way. I also constantly try to develop [new ideas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ideai) for the website like new features and collaboration. Many of these don’t make it - but that’s part of the creative process. **2. How do you reset yourself to become creative? Do you have any rituals?** I find that my creativity decreases as my to-do list expands. We all get bogged down with the mundane part of life - and running a blog actually has a lot of mundane parts! Every now and then, I clear low-priority things from my to-do list and start anew. The very act of wiping the slate clean actually frees up a lot of mental burden and unleashes quite a bit of creativity - I’ve gotten some of my best ideas simply by starting a new to-do list ... **3. What is an example of a time where you have thrown away an existing idea to force yourself to find something new?** Some ideas are good on paper, but are actually very difficult to carry out. We’ve invested a lot of time, money, and effort in trying to change the infrastructure Neatorama from a single blog into an interconnected group of blogs. After months of trying, however, we had to cancel the project because of technology glitches. I’ve recently found a new lead in how to do it without all the technical headaches by talking to a lot of people - so the moral of the story is this: when you run into a brick wall, start talking to people because someone may have already built a door in the wall! ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.3/10 - Popularity: 3% | Activity: 28% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Media](https://www.trendhunter.com/media) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Creative Collaboration:** The use of technology-driven features like an upcoming queue can allow users to contribute their own content, fostering collaboration and expanding the range of stories on a platform. - **Resetting Creativity:** Clearing low-priority tasks and starting fresh can reset mental burden and encourage new ideas and creativity. - **Adapting to Technological Glitches:** When faced with technical difficulties in executing an idea, seeking advice and alternative solutions through networking can uncover new opportunities for success. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Blogging:** In the blogging industry, incorporating features that enable users to contribute and collaborate can enhance content diversity and engagement. - **Digital Content Platforms:** Platforms that cater to creative individuals can offer tools and features that encourage collaboration and contribute to the expansion of content offerings. - **Technology Consulting:** Consulting services that specialize in resolving technical glitches and providing alternative solutions can assist businesses in overcoming challenges and achieve their objectives. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Powered Blogging Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-powered-blogging.md) - [Content Creator News Sources](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/creative-brew.md) - [Entrepreneurial Journey Insights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/founder-folks.md) - [Fun-Centered Social Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/buzzfeed-island.md) - [Anti-Slop AI Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anthropic-pop-up.md) - [Career Reflection Journals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/being-honest-by-ignacio.md) - [Online Idea-Sharing Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oasis-of-ideas.md) - [Future Work Blogs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/worqstrap.md) - [Artist Connection-Focused Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/summer-vonholten.md)