Hi friends,

(Today is the first sunny afternoon in a while, over in my corner of the world. I hope you’re all finding some warmth wherever you’re reading this.)

On my drive home from Vermont to Wisconsin a few weeks ago, I couldn’t focus enough to read. Despite my best efforts, my eyes kept wandering, and my brother and I opted instead to bounce half-hearted conversation back and forth like a deflated balloon. We spent sixteen hours this way. I have a tendency to trail off when I end my sentences, mumbling the last few words enough that my brother often gets frustrated, interrupting with a jagged WHAT DID YOU SAY? He likes finality. I’m not always so sure.

This little tangent is my way of bringing up the challenge of endings. How do you all go about finishing your stories–verbally? In your writing? Is there a point when you know you’ve said everything you need to say? Do you enjoy crafting endings? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

—Maia