cruciverbalism

[topaz]

How do people learn how to construct crossword puzzles?

Comments

[cutieperson]

carefully.

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

Play a lot of scrabble?

[nitouche.livejournal.com]

First they attend "evil sadist" school for many years... Well, the cryptic crossword writers do, anyway.

[sconstant.livejournal.com]

I thought there were a few scenes in Wordplay that gave some hints. I've done some lame ones as presents, ignoring some of the symmetry and other rules. I think, generally, to do a non-lame one, you decide on the theme and figure out the big clues and how they'll sit. This kind of determines the size of the puzzle. This kind of forces some decisions, which force others, etc., and then all of a sudden, you're left with the decision as to whether to use "YOGI" and "EIRE" and "ELB" and how to clue those, or whether to backtrack and figure out a different placement for black squares or better words crossing those spots.

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

Having just read the book Crossworld, I still have no idea. :)

[rintrahroars.livejournal.com]

I guess if one wants to construct crosswords and one is erudite and clever *winks* one could just buy a tool like this: http://www.crossword-compiler.com/

Have fun and share with me!

[fj.livejournal.com]

Do I have to give you Roger Phillips' email so you can ask him?

[trom.livejournal.com]

http://www.crossdown.com/howtomake.htm

and then wrack your brains for weeks trying to make something that fits the rules?