Blogger Behind the Blog {Plutonium Sox}
Here’s this week’s instalment of Blogger Behind the Blog where I interview a blogger all about their reasons for blogging and what it means to them. This week I’m joined by Natalie from Plutonium Sox.
Here’s Natalie with more about why she blogs:
Where did your blog name come from?
When I started my blog, I had two dogs called Pluto and Soxa. I’d always thought Plutonium Sox would be a good name for something, so that’s what I decided to name the blog.
When did you start your blog and why?
I started it in about March 2013 to help promote a travel company I was running at the time.
What did you do before you blogged?
I worked in law for nearly 10 years in total, then left this to work from home running a travel business for a friend.
What was your first post?
Some drivel about baby wearing. It was pretty bad.
What inspires you to blog?
All sorts of things! A rant about something that’s happened, days out or holidays we’ve been on, ethical issues and generally the thought that somebody might be slightly interested in what I’ve got to say!
What post has had the best response, which post are you most proud of and which post did you enjoy writing the most?
I had quite a good response to this post – a letter to a busy mum. I think people related to it because we’re all busy, but it’s important to remember that children just want you to stop what you’re doing and make time for them.
I’m quite proud of this post about why I won’t rethink toddler portion sizes. It totally went against what everybody else was writing at the time because so many people were involved in the campaign. I was glad that I stood up for my own beliefs instead of getting swept away with the opportunity for a sponsored post and writing about something I didn’t agree with.
I really enjoyed writing my short story about an unpaid invoice. I was stuck in the car in a traffic jam for about an hour and a half. My husband was driving so I’d brought my laptop with me to get some work done and I just bashed this one out while we were in the car. It was nice to branch out into a different kind of writing.
Have any of your posts not had the response that you expected?
I was quite surprised when my VERY mundane post about a week in the life of a cat was shared many thousands of times on StumbleUpon. I still get people reading that post every day even now, and the cat died well over a year ago.
Where do you see your blog in a year’s time?
I hope I’ll be blogging a lot more about travel and I’d love it if it could be my main job. It’s the one thing I really enjoy doing and if I could earn a living doing something I love I’d consider myself incredibly lucky.
What is your favourite thing about blogging?
I rarely speak to anyone outside of my immediate family. When people comment on my blog and say that they’ve enjoyed reading a post, it feels like someone wants to hear what I’ve got to say and that’s an amazing feeling.
…and your least favourite?
PR and SEO types who are rude to me when I decline their kind offer to sell my soul to the devil in exchange for a social media share to their eight followers and half a mouldy baked bean.
What’s the best blog post you have ever read?
I’ve read some corkers in the past but I recently read this one from Agent Spitback and thought it was amazingly well written and I really related to it.
What blog do you love to read and why?
There are so many that it’s impossible to just choose one. But I’m going to go for Mum of Three world because it’s a family blog and Sarah’s family is so different from mine that by rights it shouldn’t interest me at all. And yet the way she writes is so engaging that I find myself nodding along and reading all her posts with interest and enthusiasm.
Do you do anything differently now to when you started blogging?
I interact with other bloggers. I love chatting to you, Stevie, Martyn and Nat on Facebook and many other bloggers on Twitter. I learn loads from you all and it’s great to have blogging friends that understand the whole thing.
Is blogging what you expected it to be?
Not at all, I thought it was going to be a bit of a chore, just bashing out content and promoting it on social media. Now it’s part of my life and I love it.
What’s been your favourite blog collaboration to date?
I loved working with Embrace Scotland on my review of their beautiful Blairmore Farm luxury self-catering accommodation. I felt that I did a really good review of the place and promoted it well on my social media channels – Twitter and Instagram in particular. It was also a brilliant week away at a time when we really needed it as a family. They were even kind enough to allow our friends to come along and help out with the children and dogs because my husband was on crutches.
Are there any brands you would love to work with, why?
I’d like to work with Germany Tourism on a family history piece. My dad’s side of the family are from Oberharmersbach, a small village in the Black Forest in Germany. I visited the Black Forest on a press trip a few weeks ago but I couldn’t go to the village as it was an organised whistle-stop tour. I’d love to go back with three generations of the family – myself, my dad and my children. Dad visited about 30 years ago and he could show us the house the family lived in and explain the significance of places and events. I think it would make an amazing story and hopefully it would inspire other people to both visit the region and track their own heritage.
Have you had any blogging fails so far?
Oh loads! Signing an email to a PR with ‘retards’ instead of ‘regards’, pitches to companies I’d love to work with that haven’t even been acknowledged, missing deadlines to apply to work with brands, you name it I’ve probably done it.
What is your biggest blogging hope, dream or ambition?
To travel around Europe for a year in a camper van with the whole family including the dogs. And to earn my main income from blogging while I do it.
What do you do when you’re not blogging?
I’m a freelance writer so when I’m not blogging I’m usually blogging for somebody else. I run quite a lot, I swim a bit and I played water polo until Lia came along. I hope to go back to it over the next few months.
and lastly, tell us all a random fact about yourself
I can fly a plane.
Now that you know all about Natalie from Plutonium Sox, make sure you go and read her blog. You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram – thanks so much Natalie for being involved!
WHAAAT? She can fly a plane?!
Such a lovely read. Natalie is one of my very favourite bloggers and I’m very touched that she gave my little blog a mention 🙂
I loved getting to know Natalie more. She is one of my must read bloggers and I am very honoured that she mentioned me.
And….. WOW! Fly a plane?!? That’s amazing! I look forward to reading more of her travel adventures with her family.
Oh, it’s me! Thanks very much for featuring me Donna and thanks to El and Sarah for their lovely comments too.
Nat.x
I love Natalie’s blog and I loved finding out the reason for her blog name, I love it! She can fly a plane, well that is a good one to pull out of the hat x
Ha half a mouldy baked bean, love it 😉 Classic Ray. Love seeing Nat on your blog, two of my favourite people even when me and Nat are arguing over the most ridiculous things! Really love this series of yours Donna.
Stevie x