Five Things About Blogging on Patch

1. Patch hosts bloggers. What you write, how you write it, even how often you write, are all up to you. Patch editors will check your blog for typos and won't publish any blogs that contain what we think is libelous material, but we won't edit to change your meaning, voice or opinion. The blog is your editorial property and you retain all rights to it.

2. That said, Patch reserves the right to remove objectionable, inaccurate or inflammatory material. And if you make an error, we ask that you correct it within 24 hours of being informed about the error.

3. Who makes a good blogger? Fashionistas, cyclists, moms, dads, good cooks, book club members, high school journalists, teachers, sports fans, gardeners, financial planners, people who like their own opinions, people who don't like others' opinions, political junkies, fitness experts…. You get the idea.

4. How much of a time commitment is this? It's up to you how often you blog. And no blog should be too long — 500 to 800 words is best.

5. How do you sign up? We want our bloggers to be Urbandale residents or work or go to school here. Once you meet those criteria, all you have to do is tell us a little about yourself, what you write about and send us an example of your work.

So get started!