T’is said language naturally changes over time to accommodate new input. That’s a good thing most of the time. However, some crosswords include incorrect spelling to fit their puzzle answers. I don’t think much of that technique. In addition, as a habitual crossword reader of several decades, I note current puzzles seem to include more proper names of people, songs, etc, in place of the usual wide range of descriptive and historical terms. Somehow just not as interesting as trying to winkle out the antique or exotic.
I love crossword puzzles after more than fifty years of doing them. “Illegal”? I don’t enter “official tournaments”. Couldn’t bring myself to worry about this. I want fair clues.
When I made crossword puzzles for my science students/classes and for church, I would start with by making a long list of words related to the topic (not all of which I would necessarily use).
Then I would put them onto a grid (graph paper) by hand, starting near the center with some of the longest and most important words first, trying to make as many intersections (and leaving as few empty spaces and gaps) as possible.
I did not make sure of symmetry – I was concerned about content/vocabulary. I would decide on the dimensions (up to 30 by 30) of the puzzle after I felt that I had included enough words.
I would then put my results into a crossword puzzle computer program and add clues and usually a few more words.
I personally like (and do) cryptic crossword puzzles the most – each clue is a puzzle in itself.
Ratkin Premium Member over 3 years ago
As a semi-professional crossword puzzle maker, I’m appalled at the totally illegal grid layout.
sandpiper over 3 years ago
T’is said language naturally changes over time to accommodate new input. That’s a good thing most of the time. However, some crosswords include incorrect spelling to fit their puzzle answers. I don’t think much of that technique. In addition, as a habitual crossword reader of several decades, I note current puzzles seem to include more proper names of people, songs, etc, in place of the usual wide range of descriptive and historical terms. Somehow just not as interesting as trying to winkle out the antique or exotic.
diskus Premium Member over 3 years ago
When i was a kid i looked at them as an opportunity to learn new or uncomoon words. That upper left corner is weird as said previously
clynnb1224 Premium Member over 3 years ago
give me word searches any day…crossword puzzles aren’t my forte or my favorite
KEA over 3 years ago
Watched Merl Reagle constructing one in the movie ’Wordplay’… amazing.
timinwsac Premium Member over 3 years ago
Kind of like pulling the stickers off a Rubik’s cube and then putting them back in the right order.
Michael G. over 3 years ago
I love crossword puzzles after more than fifty years of doing them. “Illegal”? I don’t enter “official tournaments”. Couldn’t bring myself to worry about this. I want fair clues.
royq27 over 3 years ago
What is a 14 letter phrase for funny?
Doug K over 3 years ago
When I made crossword puzzles for my science students/classes and for church, I would start with by making a long list of words related to the topic (not all of which I would necessarily use).
Then I would put them onto a grid (graph paper) by hand, starting near the center with some of the longest and most important words first, trying to make as many intersections (and leaving as few empty spaces and gaps) as possible.
I did not make sure of symmetry – I was concerned about content/vocabulary. I would decide on the dimensions (up to 30 by 30) of the puzzle after I felt that I had included enough words.
I would then put my results into a crossword puzzle computer program and add clues and usually a few more words.
I personally like (and do) cryptic crossword puzzles the most – each clue is a puzzle in itself.
locake over 3 years ago
He is a cruciverbalist.
locake over 3 years ago
If you can’t solve a crossword puzzle, you surely would not be able to create one. Creating a puzzle is much more difficult.