September 29, 2000

Novel Approach

By SCOTT STREET

The typical creative-writing class might go something like this: Write a story. Have your classmates read it. Listen to them rip it to shreds. Get a grade. End of story.

Bob Stanton, an English professor at Jacksonville University, wanted his students to have a better experience.

So about 10 years ago, he started having his classes write group novels for publication. Two attempts flopped, but the third was a success, resulting in The Devil's Rood: A Group Novel about America's