Before you fill out an application, there are a few things you should know, especially if you've never been a part of the Union before. (If you're long experienced in the ways of Long Island & the Union, you can skip this part.) It may seem like a lot, but many of these are Union rules that you have to follow, anyway.
- This is not a first come, first serve deal. Even if we have lots of slots for newsies open, if it's not a good profile, it won't be accepted.
- Don't apply to several houses at the same time with the same character.
- Know your location. Ocean Side and Freeport are small towns, several miles east of Brooklyn, and south of Hempstead. The Long Island Railroad connects them both with Brooklyn, but it's a long way away from Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx.
- You MUST check the Union Writer's Resource to see if your character's name is in use. Then double check at all the non-lodging house listings at the Union Writer's Resource to make sure it isn't in use elsewhere. For example, Judith/Judy is taken (Rose Theatre). Arabesque is taken (Rose Theatre, Bistro Lucio). The people who created those characters will be highly irritated if you use those names. You would be, too, if you were in their shoes.
- If you mention one of the movie characters in your profile, there had better be a good reason. Check out the Lower Manhattan profile listing at the Union Writer's Resource to see what is possible, and what is out of the question.
- You need to have an e-mail address. This way we can get in contact with you, you can send in stories, and you can be a part of the mailing list. Yahoo! and Hotmail both offer free e-mail, and there are others out there, as well.
- Current year in the Union is 1904. That means that everything that happens in chat, etc., takes place on that date, 1904.
- Historical accuracy and plausibility are both important. Don't worry if you don't know everything there is to know about NYC history at the turn of the century. Not all of us here do. (NYC Facts is a very good resource to bookmark, though.) Just don't make any glaring mistakes, like placing the Great San Fransisco Earthquake in 1902, or having your character an ace pilot. And as for plausability, if it seems outrageous or improbable, it more than likely is.
- There are story ratings (Union rule). They're the same as movie ratings, with the highest allowed in the Union being R. If you must write R rated fiction, do it tastefully. (And yes, it is possible.)
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If you are new to this, and need/want help writing your profile, here are some examples of what not to do.
Fill out an application.
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