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The Power of the Prompt: Growing a Writing Community. How a little Scribble Goes a Long Way.
330 pages, Paperback
Published April 29, 2026
About the author
Lara O'Brien
3 books13 followersLara O’Brien is the founder of Howth Writing Workshops and Retreats, a community group she started at her kitchen table.
From this small setting, Howth Writing workshops has grown to include writing retreats in Martha’s Vineyard, New
York, Maine, and the mountains of Cadiz, Spain where she co-hosts writing and yoga retreats at Suryalila.
Passionate about stories, music, and community, in 2023 Lara
combined that passion and founded “Hooks & Reels” – an evening of story and song – where local musicians and writers showcase
their work for the community.
Hooks & Reels has grown to
be a regular and popular fixture in the Howth Community Calendar and continues to inspire the work of many upcoming artists, writers and musicians.
In 2025, Trinity College Dublin recruited Lara to create and
present Storytelling for Cultural Communications and Innovation at their Business School.
She facilitates youth summits on writing and leadership, and songwriting workshops for youth groups, and is an AsIAm champion supporting the autism community.
Lara championed the restoration of the historical Howth Eire
6 sign, which was officially launched by President Michael D. Higgins. Lara is the convener of the EIRE 6 Restoration
Group, and Howth Community and Arts Group.
Lara divides family life between Howth, Dublin and Vinalhaven, Maine. When not writing, Lara is found hiking trails,
toe-tapping at music sessions, or relaxing with her husband, children and friends.
For information on any of Lara’s workshops and retreats
in Howth, Cadiz, Spain, and Vinalhaven, Maine, go to
https://www.laraobrien.com.
For upcoming Hooks & Reels, go to https://www.
hooksandreels.com or @hooksandreels on Instagram.
To book a workshop for a private group or library presentation
on The Power of the Prompt, contact Lara O’Brien at laraobrienbooks@gmail.com, on Instagram at @laraobrienbooks, or
on Facebook
From this small setting, Howth Writing workshops has grown to include writing retreats in Martha’s Vineyard, New
York, Maine, and the mountains of Cadiz, Spain where she co-hosts writing and yoga retreats at Suryalila.
Passionate about stories, music, and community, in 2023 Lara
combined that passion and founded “Hooks & Reels” – an evening of story and song – where local musicians and writers showcase
their work for the community.
Hooks & Reels has grown to
be a regular and popular fixture in the Howth Community Calendar and continues to inspire the work of many upcoming artists, writers and musicians.
In 2025, Trinity College Dublin recruited Lara to create and
present Storytelling for Cultural Communications and Innovation at their Business School.
She facilitates youth summits on writing and leadership, and songwriting workshops for youth groups, and is an AsIAm champion supporting the autism community.
Lara championed the restoration of the historical Howth Eire
6 sign, which was officially launched by President Michael D. Higgins. Lara is the convener of the EIRE 6 Restoration
Group, and Howth Community and Arts Group.
Lara divides family life between Howth, Dublin and Vinalhaven, Maine. When not writing, Lara is found hiking trails,
toe-tapping at music sessions, or relaxing with her husband, children and friends.
For information on any of Lara’s workshops and retreats
in Howth, Cadiz, Spain, and Vinalhaven, Maine, go to
https://www.laraobrien.com.
For upcoming Hooks & Reels, go to https://www.
hooksandreels.com or @hooksandreels on Instagram.
To book a workshop for a private group or library presentation
on The Power of the Prompt, contact Lara O’Brien at laraobrienbooks@gmail.com, on Instagram at @laraobrienbooks, or
on Facebook
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 20, 2026
beautiful book for anyone looking to start writing. so special also to read my mothers writing and to hear how community has been formed through such an ancient practice.
Displaying 1 of 1 review