Freelance Austin September Event: This is Not Your Mother’s Social Media!

Even though the Austin weather is cooling down, Freelance Austin is just starting to heat up and the September meeting is sure to be a sell out in a flash. Reserve your seat today to for a chance to hear from one of Austin’s hottest bloggers, Tolly Moseley of the popular Austin Eavesdropper blog on September 12th to learn how to blog like one of the best.

 As a writer, her work has been featured in Salon, Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, and in “Mortified,” a national touring show where adults read their adolescent diary entries to a room full of strangers. She is also the co-host of “Hungry” on YouTube’s food channel, YouTube.com/Hungry, which focuses on neighborhood eating in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Austin. In 2010, she was named one of the Top 25 Social Media People in Texas by the Austin American-Statesman, and in 2011, Austin Eavesdropper was voted “Best Local Blog” in 2011 by the Austin Chronicle.

FA: What is your #1 rule about blogging?
TM: Popularity is fleeting, so don’t worry about creating a popular blog. Focus on creating a special blog.

FA: What’s your favorite Austin eatery? Why?
TM: Oh man. Tough question! Daily Juice Cafe on 45th & Duval when I’m feeling virtuous. Barley Swine when I’m feeling more splurge-y. The last thing I ate over there was Hefeveizen donuts with whiskey marshmallows.  (!) 

FA: What blogs do you read/follow?
TM: I actually don’t read a ton; I’m more of a books gal. But Orangette is a wonderful food blog — Molly Wizenberg crafts these thoughtful stories about her life and her meals. Here in Austin, I’m a huge fan of novelist Ruth Pennebaker and her blog The Fabulous Geezersisters. Also, my friend Lauren Modery pens Hipstercrite, a pop culture / 20s malaise / local Austin mash-up. She’s funny, irreverent and prolific.

TM: Maybe 15-20 minutes. I have a day job, so blogging itself is the most time-consuming task, then I’ll spend a few minutes sharing the post on Twitter/Facebook, and while I’m there, interact with friends and look for interesting bits of Austin information to share. Instagram happens more randomly and serendipitously, like when I’m suddenly confronted with a gloriously juicy hamburger (I wish this happened more often).FA: So, I want to be a blogger?  What’s the first thing I should think about that I probably won’t?TM: That your blog is an evolving being, and will probably change a lot from the day you start it. I wish I could insert a picture of my blog in all its fabulously ugly glory when I first hit “publish.” Even if you start off saying — OK! I am a professional stylist, and therefore, my blog will be about personal style!  Well, it may, but perhaps you’ll eventually get inspired to blog about other things, like old black & white movies or desserts or motorcycles. People LIKE quirk, so embrace yours in the blogosphere.

Register today to hear more blogging tips and tricks from Tolly at the September Freelance Austin meeting on September 12th from 12:15-1:30 PM at the Ronald McDonald House.