Acceptance.

Although I still occasionally mope about not having a real money-maker of a job (stop that! No more of it. Move on.), I really like writing part-time for the local newspaper. As a regular at editorial meetings, I'm getting to know the other reporters and take on new types of articles (town meeting, school prayer lawsuit, murder trial, etc.).

My official position as freelancer was to pick up stories other writers couldn't cover. But I appreciate my editor's efforts to make me part of the team. I went to the office Christmas party and was invited to an important local luncheon with the editorial staff. I often feel like one of them, only with fewer articles.

And then yesterday, the editor assigned me a new project: an enterprise story.

"You ready?" he said.

"I think so."

An enterprise piece is an in-depth, three-part article. Our paper recently investigated a huge highway project (and possible scandal, which has since been halted since publication). Another enterprise piece just began on prescription drug abuse.

The writer begins with long-term research and a thousand interviews. How do you finish? At some point in the process, I was told, you just decide to stop writing.

I'm writing the elusive real-world thesis. My subject will be volunteer fire departments.

VFDs (an important subject in A Series of Unfortunate Events) are a huge part of the culture here. All of the local stations are entirely volunteer-based and non-competitive. I'll examine the funding, partnerships, people - whatever comes to light.

I'm kind of excited.