The writing companion

You don't need to be a writer.

Every letter in the book already starts the sentence for you. All you need is one true sentence to finish it. If you're stuck, the questions below will help you find yours. That's all they do. The words stay yours.

How the book works

  1. 1Read the printed line. It starts the sentence for you.
  2. 2Write one true sentence. Two if it spills.
  3. 3Fold. Seal. Done. Next letter.
Crossed-out words are allowed. They're proof a real mom wrote this. Stuck on one? Skip it. Fifteen sealed letters beat sixteen unwritten ones.

What you won't find here

No sample letters. No scripts. Nothing written for you.

This book only works because every word in it sounds like you. So we ask the questions. You already know the answers.

Who are you writing to?

Start with letters 3, 2, and 10. The funny ones first. You'll be warmed up before the big ones even see you coming.

Letter no. 1

For your first night

In the book"What did I do the moment we drove away? The truth:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • Where did it hit you? The parking lot, the highway, her empty room?
  • What did you do that afternoon that you'd never tell her?
  • Who did you call from the car, and what did you actually say?
Letter no. 2

Open when the dining hall is sus

In the book"The dish you always asked for. Exactly how I make it:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • Which dish does she ask for the second she walks in the door?
  • Which step do you do by feel, the one no recipe card has ever gotten right?
  • What do you leave out when anyone else asks how you make it?
Letter no. 3

For the 8AM you're about to skip

In the book"What I used to yell up the stairs:" (write it the way you said it, caps allowed)

If you're stuck, start here
  • What were your exact words the third time you called up the stairs?
  • What did she groan back, every single morning?
  • Which sound told you she was finally, actually up?
Letter no. 4

HOMESICK ISN'T WEAK.

In the bookThis one isn't a writing page. You underline the word that matters most in the printed line, and initial it.

All it takes
  • Read the printed line out loud, once. Which word catches in your throat? That's the one you underline.
Letter no. 5

When you bomb your first exam

In the book"A time I failed at something, for real. And what happened next:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • Which failure still makes you wince? The class, the job, the year that went sideways?
  • Who found out, and what did they say that you still remember?
  • What came next that you never saw coming?
Letter no. 6

OPEN AT 2AM.

In the book"If you called me right now, crying, not able to say a word, this is what I'd say:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • It's 2am and she's crying too hard to talk. What's the first full sentence out of your mouth?
  • What have you said a hundred times at the kitchen table that always slows her tears?
  • If she only kept one sentence of yours for the rest of her life, which one do you want it to be?
Letter no. 7

For when a boy makes you cry

In the book"What I wish someone had told me at eighteen about love:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • Who broke your heart at eighteen, and what do you know now that you didn't then?
  • What did someone tell you back then about love that turned out to be wrong?
  • What did nobody tell you that you had to learn the long way?
Letter no. 8

When it feels like everyone made friends except you

In the book"The loneliest I've ever been, and how my first real friend showed up:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • When were you the new one? First job, new town, your own freshman year?
  • Who turned out to be your person, and where did you actually meet? The real, unglamorous place.
  • How long did the lonely stretch honestly last?
Letter no. 9

Open when you're sick and I'm not there with the soup

In the book"My exact protocol. What you take, what you drink, and what I always say:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • What do you bring first: the medicine, the drink, or the blanket?
  • What do you always say from the doorway?
  • What did your own mother do when you were sick that you still do?
Letter no. 10

Your roommate is… a lot. Open this.

In the book"The most impossible person I ever lived with, and how I survived:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • Who was your impossible person? Sibling, first roommate, that one coworker?
  • Which habit of theirs nearly ended you?
  • How did it end: truce, friendship, or a story you still tell?
Letter no. 11

Open when you did something I'd be SO mad about

In the book"My promise, no matter what:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • What's the worst thing you ever had to confess to your own parents?
  • What did you need them to say first, before the lecture?
  • What's the one promise you can make her with a straight face, no matter what she did?
Letter no. 12

For the day you want to quit and come home

In the book"The hardest thing I ever watched you do. And how it ended:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • What did she almost quit and then didn't? The team, the instrument, the class?
  • Which hard thing did you watch her push through that she's probably forgotten?
  • How did that story end?
Letter no. 13

When something amazing happens and I'm the first person you want to call

In the book"How I will celebrate when that call comes. In embarrassing detail:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • What do you actually do when big news hits? Scream, cry, call your sister?
  • Who hears about it ten seconds after you hang up?
  • Which celebration of yours makes her roll her eyes every time?
Letter no. 14

Open when you can't remember why you're doing this

In the book"The day I knew you were going to college. What you said, and how old you were:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • How old was she the first time she said "when I go to college…"? Where were you standing?
  • What was she obsessed with at eight that points straight at this?
  • When did you first think, quietly: she's going to leave, and she'll be fine?
Letter no. 15

A question I never asked you

In the book"My question:" This one opens both ways. She writes back, with years to answer if she needs them.

If you're stuck, start here
  • What do you keep almost asking at dinner and then swallowing?
  • What does everyone assume you know about her that you actually don't?
  • If you got just one completely honest answer, what would you spend it on?
Letter no. 16

THE LAST ONE.

The gold one

In the book"To the twenty-two-year-old reading this. She just did the thing we're only dreaming about today:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • Four years from now, on an ordinary Tuesday. What do you hope her life looks like?
  • What should the graduate know about how you felt today, watching her go?
  • What did today look like? The boxes, the drive, the weather. She'll want the details in four years.
Letter no. 1

For your first night

In the book"What did I do the moment we drove away? The truth:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • Where did it hit you? The parking lot, the highway, his empty room?
  • What did you do that afternoon that you'd never tell him?
  • Who did you call from the car, and what did you actually say?
Letter no. 2

Open when the dining hall is mid

In the book"The dish you always asked for. Exactly how I make it:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • Which dish does he ask for the second he walks in the door?
  • Which step do you do by feel, the part that's not written down anywhere?
  • What do you leave out when anyone else asks for the recipe?
Letter no. 3

For the laundry you haven't done in three weeks

In the book"My actual instructions. Darks, whites, and the thing you always shrink:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • Which shirt got shrunk that neither of you ever forgot?
  • What's the rule you repeated at the machine every single time?
  • What will he forget first: the pockets, the lint trap, or the wet load overnight?
Letter no. 4

FINE.

In the bookThis one isn't a writing page. You cross out every "fine" that was ever a lie, and initial it.

All it takes
  • When did you last say "I'm fine" with a straight face and mean the opposite? Cross out with that day in mind.
Letter no. 5

When you bomb your first exam

In the book"A time I failed at something, for real. And what happened next:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • Which failure still makes you wince? The class, the job, the year that went sideways?
  • Who found out, and what did they say that you still remember?
  • What came next that you never saw coming?
Letter no. 6

OPEN WHEN YOU'RE TOO PROUD TO CALL.

In the book"If you ever called me at 2am and couldn't get a single word out, this is what I'd say:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • He finally calls at 2am and says nothing. What's the first full sentence out of your mouth?
  • What do you say when he goes quiet, in the truck or at the kitchen table, that has always worked?
  • If he only ever kept one sentence of yours, which one do you want it to be?
Letter no. 7

For when they leave you on read

In the book"What I wish someone had told me at eighteen about love:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • Who broke your heart at eighteen, and what do you know now that you didn't then?
  • What did someone tell you back then about love that turned out to be wrong?
  • What did nobody tell you that you had to learn the long way?
Letter no. 8

When it feels like everyone made friends except you

In the book"The loneliest I've ever been, and how my first real friend showed up:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • When were you the new one? First job, new town, your own freshman year?
  • Who turned out to be your person, and where did you actually meet? The real, unglamorous place.
  • How long did the lonely stretch honestly last?
Letter no. 9

Open when you're sick and I'm not there with the soup

In the book"My exact protocol. What you take, what you drink, and what I always say:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • What do you bring first: the medicine, the drink, or the blanket?
  • What do you always say from the doorway?
  • What did your own mother do when you were sick that you still do?
Letter no. 10

Your roommate is… a lot. Open this.

In the book"The most impossible person I ever lived with, and how I survived:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • Who was your impossible person? Sibling, first roommate, that one coworker?
  • Which habit of theirs nearly ended you?
  • How did it end: truce, friendship, or a story you still tell?
Letter no. 11

Open when you did something I'd be SO mad about

In the book"My promise, no matter what:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • What's the worst thing you ever had to confess to your own parents?
  • What did you need them to say first, before the lecture?
  • What's the one promise you can make him with a straight face, no matter what he did?
Letter no. 12

For the day you want to quit and come home

In the book"The hardest thing I ever watched you do. And how it ended:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • What did he almost quit and then didn't? The team, the season, the class?
  • Which hard thing did you watch him push through that he's probably forgotten?
  • How did that story end?
Letter no. 13

When the news is too big for a text

In the book"How I will celebrate when that call comes. In embarrassing detail:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • What do you actually do when big news hits? Yell, cry, call your sister?
  • Who hears about it ten seconds after you hang up?
  • Which celebration of yours makes him roll his eyes every time?
Letter no. 14

Open when you can't remember why you're doing this

In the book"The day I knew you were going to college. What you said, and how old you were:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • How old was he the first time he said "when I go to college…"? Where were you standing?
  • What was he obsessed with at eight that points straight at this?
  • When did you first think, quietly: he's going to leave, and he'll be fine?
Letter no. 15

A question I never asked you

In the book"My question:" This one opens both ways. He writes back, with years to answer if he needs them.

If you're stuck, start here
  • What do you keep almost asking at dinner and then swallowing?
  • What does everyone assume you know about him that you actually don't?
  • If you got just one completely honest answer, what would you spend it on?
Letter no. 16

THE LAST ONE.

The gold one

In the book"To the twenty-two-year-old reading this. He just did the thing we're only dreaming about today:"

If you're stuck, start here
  • Four years from now, on an ordinary Tuesday. What do you hope his life looks like?
  • What should the graduate know about how you felt today, watching him go?
  • What did today look like? The boxes, the drive, the weather. He'll want the details in four years.

Twenty minutes. Sixteen letters. Four years of being there.

Still stuck on a letter? Write to us: support@pennedco.com. We'll send you another question. Never the answer.