Hopkins Helps Writer Turn Passion Into Profession

Published July 8, 2026 | Request Information

When Colette Costlow fell 38 feet through an auditorium ceiling during a college theater production in 2021, the accident forced her to reevaluate nearly every aspect of her life.

What could have been a tragedy became a turning point instead.

“I truly evaluated what I was doing and whom I was spending time with, and I needed a shift in perspective,” said Costlow, a Master of Arts in Writing program student at Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs. “I craved something deeper, something more meaningful and worthwhile.”

Today, Costlow is a multimedia journalist at the Altoona Mirror in central Pennsylvania, where she covers everything from community stories to events with public figures, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. At the same time, she is pursuing her master’s degree in writing through Hopkins while working toward a longtime dream of becoming a published author and university literature professor.

The path to journalism and creative writing was not always clear.

As a student at Saint Francis University, Costlow originally saw herself on stage, pursuing both school and community theatre. But after her accident, she found herself drawn more deeply to literature and storytelling.

“I took a creative writing course the semester after my accident, and I fell in love with the practice,” Costlow said. “There was something therapeutic in writing my feelings in different characters, and I knew from that moment on that I had made the right decision by being an English major.”

That passion eventually led her to Hopkins, where she enrolled in the university’s writing program in fall 2025.

Costlow credits the program and its faculty with helping her grow both creatively and professionally.

“I tell everyone that one of the best decisions I’ve ever made was coming to Johns Hopkins to pursue a master’s degree focused on creative writing,” she said.

One of the most influential experiences came through the course Essence of Place: Description, Detail, and Setting, taught by Heidi Vornbrock and Bethany Duarte.

“My biggest weakness was detail,” Costlow said. “After taking that course, I learned how important setting can be to a story, along with sensory details. Now, I can’t write a story without having a solid and immersive setting.”

Faculty mentorship has also helped Costlow gain confidence in a project she has been developing for nearly a decade: a historical fiction trilogy set during the Great Depression.

She submitted a scene from the trilogy in one of her Hopkins courses and received encouraging feedback from Duarte.

“Duarte read and revised it, stating that it was my best submission all semester,” Costlow said. “My attitude toward the story shifted, and I became more confident in my story.”

That support has played a critical role in helping Costlow balance her professional career with her academic goals.

“I live two lives: I’m a journalist by day, but I’m a creative writer by night,” she said.

The two disciplines often complement each other. Reporting on local communities inspires her creative work, while the storytelling techniques she studies and practices at Hopkins strengthen her feature writing as a journalist.

“My editor encourages me to get creative when writing these articles,” Costlow said. “I believe that I’m becoming a better writer because of the exposure.”

Costlow said Hopkins faculty members, including Alonzo Vereen, Duarte, and Elise Levine, have provided valuable feedback on her writing and helped her continue refining her trilogy.

“They’ve read and revised my writing, giving me the feedback I need to finish my historical fiction trilogy,” she said.

As she continues working toward her 2027 graduation, Costlow remains focused on her long-term goals of publishing fiction and teaching literature at the university level.

The journey that began with a life-changing accident has evolved into a career centered on storytelling—one that continues to grow through the skills, mentorship, and opportunities she has found at Hopkins.

“Although we read and write a lot, encouragement does a lot for my motivation,” Costlow said. “I believe it’s the healthy encouragement from my professors that keeps my passion for creative writing alive.”