Write to a grandparent about their kitchen or garden: what it smells like, what you did there and what you want to do next time.First line: I can still smell the tomato plants.
Write a letter to your future self for the first day of the next school year: what to remember, who to find and what to pack.First line: Do not forget where the good seat is.
Write to a friend who moved away about something of theirs you found: what it is, where it was and how you will get it to them.First line: Your blue glove was behind my radiator.
Write a first letter to a new pen pal: your name, the three things you like best and one question for them.First line: I have never written to someone I have not met, so hello.
Write to a pen pal about a book you just finished: who it is about, the best part and whether they should read it.First line: I finished a book last night and have nobody to tell.
Write to a pen pal about a game you play outside: what you need, who plays and how somebody wins.First line: You will need a ball and a wall for this.
Write to a pen pal about a holiday your family keeps: what you eat, what you do and the part you wait for.First line: Next month is my favorite day of the year.
Write to a pen pal about a pet, or the pet you wish for: its name, its worst habit and what it does when you come home.First line: There is a cat asleep on this letter as I write.
Write to a pen pal about an ordinary school day: what happens first, the best part and the part you would skip.First line: Here is my Tuesday, from the first bell.
Write to a pen pal about something you collect, or would like to: what it is, where you keep it and the best one you have.First line: I have a jar of sea glass, and one piece is blue.
Write to a pen pal about the food at your table: a breakfast, a dinner you ask for and one thing you will not eat.First line: I am writing this hungry, so this letter is about food.
Write to a pen pal about the sounds where you live: what wakes you, what you hear at noon and the last sound at night.First line: The first thing I hear every day is the neighbor's rooster.
Write to a pen pal about the weather this week: what you wore, what you could not do and what you did instead.First line: It has rained here for four days.
Write to a pen pal about three words people say where you live: each word, what it means and when to say it.First line: Here are three words you will not find in your book.
Write to a pen pal about your room: the bed, what is under it and what you see from the window.First line: I am sitting on my bed, so I will start there.
Write to a pen pal about your town: its best place, its usual weather and one thing visitors get wrong.First line: You asked what it is like here, so I will start with the hill.
Write to a pen pal about your weekend: one thing you planned, one thing that went wrong and one thing you ate.First line: Saturday did not go the way I said it would.
Write to a pen pal with three questions about their life, and answer each one yourself first.First line: I have three questions, and I will go first.
To a relative 15
Write to a baby in the family, to be read years from now: the day they came home, what they did and what you thought.First line: You will not remember this, so I am writing it down.
Write to a brother or sister, to leave on their pillow: something they did well, something you are sorry for and a plan for Saturday.First line: Do not tell anyone I wrote you a letter.
Write to a cousin about a game the two of you made up: the rules as you remember them, who won last and a new rule.First line: I found the rules to our game in a drawer.
Write to a cousin about the next visit: what you will do first, what to bring and where they will sleep.First line: Only twelve days until you get here.
Write to a grandparent about a story they tell: the part you like best, a question about it and what you would have done.First line: Tell me again about the goat on the roof.
Write to a grandparent about their kitchen or garden: what it smells like, what you did there and what you want to do next time.First line: I can still smell the tomato plants.
Write to a grandparent about your week: one thing you made, one thing you learned and one thing that made you laugh.First line: This week I learned to crack an egg with one hand.
Write to a grandparent to ask about being your age: where they lived, what they played and what got them in trouble.First line: I have some questions about when you were nine.
Write to a grandparent to teach them a game you like: what it is, the first step and the mistake everyone makes.First line: Get a pencil, because there are rules.
Write to a parent who is away for a few days: what the house sounds like, what you ate and what is waiting for them.First line: The house is very quiet without your singing.
Write to a relative about a photo of the two of you: where it was, what was going on outside the frame and why you were laughing.First line: There is a photo of us on the fridge.
Write to a relative far away about what has grown: you, the dog and the tree in the yard.First line: You would not know the yard if you saw it now.
Write to a relative you have met only once: what you remember, what you have been told and what you would like to know.First line: We met when I was four, and I remember your hat.
Write to an aunt or uncle about something they cook: when you last ate it, what you remember and whether they will teach you.First line: I have been thinking about your soup.
Write to an older cousin with three questions about their school: the teachers, the lunch and the work.First line: You are the only person I know who goes there.
To a friend who moved 15
Write to a friend who goes to a different school now: your new classroom, the walk there and who you eat lunch with.First line: My new classroom has no windows on your side.
Write to a friend who moved away about a day you wish they had seen: the weather, what happened and the moment they would have loved.First line: You should have been here on Friday.
Write to a friend who moved away about a joke only the two of you know: the day it began, the last time you used it and a new one to add.First line: Nobody here laughs when I say pickle.
Write to a friend who moved away about a new friend: how you met, what they are like and why the two of them would get along.First line: There is someone here you would like.
Write to a friend who moved away about something of theirs you found: what it is, where it was and how you will get it to them.First line: Your blue glove was behind my radiator.
Write to a friend who moved away about the team they left: who took their place, how the last game went and what everyone says.First line: We lost on Saturday, and I blame your moving.
Write to a friend who moved away about the thing you two were building: where it is now, what you added and what it still needs.First line: The fort is still standing, mostly.
Write to a friend who moved away about their last day here: what you remember, what you forgot to say and what you kept.First line: I still have the note you left in my desk.
Write to a friend who moved away about what has changed: who sits in their seat, what is new at recess and what is just the same.First line: Somebody else has your seat now, and it looks wrong.
Write to a friend who moved away about your street: the new neighbors, the dog next door and the tree you both climbed.First line: The people in your house have a trampoline.
Write to a friend who moved away after a long gap: why it took so long, what they missed and a question to keep it going.First line: I know, I know. It has been months.
Write to a friend who moved away to ask about the new place: their room, their school and where they go for a snack.First line: I have looked at your new town on a map.
Write to a friend who moved away to plan a visit: when it could be, what you will do first and what you will eat.First line: I have asked, and the answer is maybe.
Write to a friend who moved away with news in threes: one good thing, one strange thing and one thing that was nobody's fault.First line: Three things have happened since you left.
Write to a friend who moved away, for their birthday: what you did last year, what you would have brought and what you wish for them.First line: Last year on this day we ate the whole cake.
A thank-you letter 15
Write a thank-you letter after a party: the game you liked, the food you went back for and the thing you took home.First line: I went back for cake twice, and I am not sorry.
Write a thank-you letter for a present you did not expect to like: what you thought first, what changed your mind and how you use it now.First line: I will be honest: I wanted the other one.
Write a thank-you letter for a present: what it is, where you keep it and the first thing you did with it.First line: It is on my shelf where I can see it from bed.
Write a thank-you letter to a coach: a skill you have now, a game you remember and something they said that stuck.First line: I can finally kick with my left foot.
Write a thank-you letter to a friend who helped on a bad day: what went wrong, what they did and how the day ended.First line: You did not have to share your lunch, but you did.
Write a thank-you letter to a librarian for a book they found: what you asked for, what they handed you and what you are reading now.First line: I asked for a book about sharks and you knew just the one.
Write a thank-you letter to a neighbor who lent you something: what it was, what you did with it and the state it comes back in.First line: Your ladder is coming home with a little paint on it.
Write a thank-you letter to a pet, for fun: what it does every morning, what it ruined and why you forgive it.First line: You cannot read, so I will read this to you.
Write a thank-you letter to a teacher at the end of the year: one thing you learned, one day you remember and one thing you will keep doing.First line: I can do long division now, and that is your fault.
Write a thank-you letter to a younger child who made you a drawing: what is in it, where you put it and what you will draw back.First line: Your drawing of me is on my door.
Write a thank-you letter to someone who came to watch you: where they sat, what you did and what it was like to see them there.First line: I saw you in the third row.
Write a thank-you letter to someone you stayed with: the bed, the breakfast and the best hour of the visit.First line: I slept better at your house than I do at home.
Write a thank-you letter to the grown-up who taught you to ride a bike or swim: the first try, the worst try and the day it worked.First line: You let go of the seat and did not tell me.
Write a thank-you letter to the person who drives your bus: what they do, when you see them and one thing you noticed.First line: You have waited for me three times this month.
Write a thank-you letter to whoever cooked dinner tonight: what was on the plate, the best bite and what you would like again.First line: There was nothing left on my plate, as you saw.
To your future self 15
Write a letter to your future self about a promise: what it is, why you are making it and how you will know you kept it.First line: I am writing this down so you cannot say I never said it.
Write a letter to your future self about dinner tonight: who sat where, who talked most and what was funny.First line: Tonight six of us sat at a table for four.
Write a letter to your future self about small things that may change: what a snack costs, the loudest dog on your street and the game everyone plays.First line: A bag of chips costs more than I have.
Write a letter to your future self about something you are in the middle of: how far along it is, what is hard and how you think it ends.First line: Right now the model ship has one mast.
Write a letter to your future self about something you just learned to do: the first time it worked, who showed you and what comes next.First line: Yesterday I rode to the end of the street.
Write a letter to your future self about your favorites, to see which last: a food, a game and a place.First line: Check this list and see how many are still true.
Write a letter to your future self about your room as it is today: what is on the floor, what is on the wall and what you will never throw out.First line: There are socks on the floor, as usual.
Write a letter to your future self as a grown-up, with three questions: about your job, your home and what you still like.First line: Do you have a dog yet? Answer that one first.
Write a letter to your future self at the age a parent is now: what you think their day is like, what you would change and what you would keep.First line: So this is what it is like to be the tall one.
Write a letter to your future self at the end of this school year: three things you want to be able to do by then.First line: By the time you read this, I hope you can whistle.
Write a letter to your future self for the first day of the next school year: what to remember, who to find and what to pack.First line: Do not forget where the good seat is.
Write a letter to your future self next summer: what you did this summer, what you missed and what to do first next time.First line: Next time, go to the lake on the first day.
Write a letter to your future self one year from now about today: what you ate, what you are wearing and what you are looking forward to.First line: Today I had toast, and it was raining.
Write a letter to your future self ten years from now: where you live today, who your friends are and what you think you will be doing.First line: Hello from a long time ago.
Write a letter to your future self, to open on your next birthday: what you hope has changed, what you hope has not and which cake to ask for.First line: Happy birthday. Do you still like lemon cake?
How it works
Every one of these friendly letter writing prompts has a reader: a pen pal, a grandparent, a friend who moved away, someone to thank, or you a year from now. Each says three things to put in the letter.
Read the full guide
Pen pal writing prompts
Fifteen letters are to a pen pal, and each keeps to what someone far away could not guess: three words people say where you live, the game you play against a wall, what four days of rain did to the week. One asks three questions and answers them first.
Where a prompt goes in the letter
A prompt here fills the body, the main part of a letter, and the line under it is a sentence to put straight after Dear and the name. The three things to tell can take a paragraph each.
Write the date at the top. A letter to your future self needs it most.
End on a question. It gives the reader a reason to write back.
Questions and answers
What do you write in a friendly letter?
News the reader does not have yet. These prompts pick three things each time: for a grandparent, one thing you made this week, one thing you learned and one thing that made you laugh.
What are the five parts of a friendly letter?
Heading, greeting, body, closing and signature. The heading holds your address and the date, the greeting is Dear and a name, the closing ends the letter, and you sign your name under it. A postscript, P.S., can follow.
What is a good letter to future self writing prompt?
One that writes down small things before they change. Write to yourself a year from now about today: what you ate, what you are wearing and what you are looking forward to. Fifteen prompts here are to a future you.
How do you start a thank-you letter?
With the thing itself. The fifteen thank-you prompts open on what was given or done: It is on my shelf where I can see it from bed. You let go of the seat and did not tell me.