You Talkin' to Me?? I Hope So.

Things change fast at a new site like Golden Valley Patch. Up until now, we've primarily been a news operation, written by our staff and freelancers. But soon, very soon, we're hoping to add a new voice to the site: Yours.

There are already plenty of ways to contribute to Patch—by leaving comments on our articles, by posting pics and comments to our Facebook page, by posting to our events calendar and by posting announcements. But now we're introducing a new site section, for community blogs.  And we want you to be a part of it.

Got something to say about life in Golden Valley or news to spread? Need a forum for your community group?  Just eager to share your views?  Read on and see if Golden Valley Patch's blog is right for you.

What Kind of Bloggers We're Looking For:

We don't have a lot of hard requirements, but what you've got to say should be interesting and relevant to Golden Valley residents, because they're the ones who will read your work.  Maybe you're talking about our local politics. Maybe you're spreading news about community projects. Maybe you're the local authority on a given topic, with the bona fides to back it up. All of those sound great.

If your column would make as much sense on a site about Timbuktu as it does about Golden Valley, it's not quite what we have in mind. But if Golden Valley residents feel more plugged into their community after reading it, you've hit the nail on the head.

What Kind of Blogs We're Looking For:

Well, just about anything, if there's a local hook. Got perspective on how the community's changed over the years? Want a place to showcase your cool photos from around town? Need a de-facto online newsletter for your community group? Got favorite recipes to share, or books to recommend? All of those sound like contenders to us.

What We're Not Looking For (and won't allow):

Opinions are awesome, particularly well-thought-out ones, backed up with facts. But personal insults, unfounded claims and defamation aren't what we're looking for. When opinions get strong and contentious, it's not always clear where the fine lines are drawn, but we're more than happy to help guide you through those murky waters. And as long as your intention is to keep things above-board, we're happy to have you on the site.

What's In It For a Blogger?:

You might get fame, but not fortune, from your Golden Valley Patch blog. So here's the deal: We get the privilege of hosting your valuable views. You get to put them on a site that's increasingly serving as a community hub, where more and more people will have the opportunity to discover them all the time. And because we're part of the Huffington Post Media Group, we may occasionally be able to put your submission in front of a huge audience. You can write as often (or as infrequently) as you'd like, though we'd love it if you’d come back again and again.

Why Post Your Blog Here Instead of Somewhere Else?:

We see our coming blogs as a bit different than our staff- and freelancer-produced content—which is to say, we don't expect to do a lot of heavy editing. If we've got a serious concern with a submission, we'll let you know—but other than that, it's your words coming through, not ours.

We'll be keeping an eye out for anything inappropriate while working to cultivate an atmosphere that's constructive, with diverse views aired in useful ways—but we're not planning to do a lot of line-by-line tweaking of your material.

Interested? Here's Your Next Step:

Send me an email right away.  Let me know your ideas for a blog, and if you've got a sample of the type of writing you'd like to do, send it along as well.  And feel free to include any questions you might have.

I'll get back to you with everything you'll need to know to get started as a Patch blogger.  I look forward to hearing from you!