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Crossword puzzles and information about them! We hope you enjoy these tips on solving and creating crossword puzzles.
Happy Puzzling!
PuzzleGuy
Solving
- If puzzle has a theme, look for its references in the clue list
- Review clue list, for familiar words/phrases
- Scan puzzle, get ideas about word lengths
- Try fitting words into spaces mentally - Aim is to fit two words together, before entering any letters
- Avoid jumping all over the puzzle, challenge is to solve the puzzle from one word to the next and to not enter any word until it clearly fits
- If difficulty occurs, put puzzle aside for a while, answers often pop up with a fresh look
- When solving puzzles in a book where answers are furnished, it is preferable to finish as much of the puzzle as possible before looking at the solution. Challenging puzzles stimulate the mind and help build the vocabulary
Constructing
Prepare a grid, or select one from the file; Beginners should start small, say 7, or 9 square grids, to minimize frustration. Numbers are odd to permit producing left/right and top/bottom mirror, or symmetric images where black squares appear Look over the grid and decide whether to construct a theme puzzle If so, put the theme words in the grid, trying to connect theme words together If it will not be a theme puzzle, start inserting words, usually in a corner, building in an orderly fashion throughout the grid When grid is complete, start writing clues. Good clues are relevant to the word, may be humorous, topical, current slang, not depressing, not pornographic With practice, proceed to larger grids. Also, try preparing a puzzle based on a grid in the newspaper as your modelUsing a Computer Crossword Program
Software programs are available which contain pre-made puzzles which can be solved on the screen, or printed out for solution by hand. Usually different degrees of puzzle difficulty are offered.
Crossword puzzle constructors often use Crossword Puzzle Compiler software programs which can put all of the words in the grid, or add words to a theme, or to a group of words entered randomly throughout the grid. When the grid is completely filled, it is a good idea to edit it carefully before proceeding to prepare clues. Look for strange and weird words, If the product is not acceptable, make changes manually, or use the compiler to construct, or set, another puzzle.
Clue Preparation
After the grid is filled and words have been checked, the program prints all of the Across and Down words in a numbered list so clues can be prepared.
Clue writing is a challenging and interesting process which involves many factors. Experienced constructors will avoid abstract and vague clues, but they do prepare clues which require some thought to connect them to the words selected for the puzzle.
Several texts are available which contain information about the origin, development and discipline required in producing various types of crossword puzzles. These references should be read to minimize problems and help avoid pitfalls along the way to becoming a puzzle constructor.