Today is the first day of the rest of Earl Hickey's life. After coming into a $100,000 scratch-off lottery ticket and losing it just as fast upon being hit by a car, Earl has an epiphany in the hospital--to make up for all the terrible things he's done in the past. With his brother Randy and a motel maid named Catalina, Earl writes up a list of every misdeed he was a part of. Earl sets out to do just that, starting with #64--Kenny James, a boy he picked on in elementary school.

Earl begins his prison sentence. Meanwhile, Joy tries to repay Earl by taking care of Randy (who is struggling to adjust) and a prison bully is looking for Earl.

Earl is given an assignment after attending a prison class which focuses on creative writing: to write a story. Soon Earl realises that writing is harder than he thought.