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Community Corner

Buford Patch Currently Seeking Bloggers

Serving as a 'Local Voice' is easier and more fun than most people realize.

Perhaps you enjoy talking about sports or maybe you are an avid fisherman who’s eager to help others learn to enjoy the sport. Then again, maybe you are a mom or dad who finds those bits of humor or pearls of wisdom in the great adventure called parenthood.

Environmental issues, health and fitness, high school extracurricular activities, running a business, using social media, answering tech questions — even displaying your photos — the list of topics for a blog is virtually limitless.

So in the interest of pulling in some more voices, here's a quick list of five questions readers often have about blogging and being a Local Voice on a Patch community site.

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1. Do you have to be a writer?

You do need to have some computer skills and keyboard skills as we don't take handwritten posts, but you certainly don't have to be a professional writer by any means.

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2. How time consuming is blogging?

One plus about blogging is there's no specific word count or blog post length. It could be a few paragraphs or 900 words. Whatever you want it to be.

3. How often will I be asked to blog?

Blogging is like an online diary or journal. You write when the muse hits, and when you have time, and that may be from once a day to once a month to every three months. There are no requirements in frequency to blog with Patch.

4. What if I am not an expert in any one specific area?

Of course it's easiest to write about something you know and understand. However, it's not a requirement. You could give an opinion, toss out ideas, ask for insight and feedback in a blog. You could just share something interesting you found on another Patch site or even another website. If you're an expert or professional in a specific industry, then it's a great way to share that knowledge, expand your networking efforts and make new contacts, but it's not a requirement. For instance, it's a great way for scout leaders to highlight troop activities as well as for business leaders to explain their views of a new development proposal and collectors of rare antiques to share a recent find.

5. Will the editors be changing my words?

Local Voices are not edited except for the usual profanity/libel potential. Patch editors read the blogs of course, but we rarely write the blogger to ask them to change anything. We may correct a misspelling in a headline to help someone look better, but that's all done as a supportive measure, not as an editing or review measure. It's your voice we want, your words and your insight. Why would we ever edit that?

Now that you have all the information start your blog by visiting our Local Voices section.

 

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