Via theatlantic: How Will Shortz Makes a New York Times Crossword Puzzle “Every crossword in the Times is a collaboration between the puzzle-maker and the puzzle editor. On average, about half the clues are mine. I may edit as few as five or ten percent of the clues, or as many as 95 percent for someone who does a great puzzle but not great clues. Why accept a puzzle when I’m going to edit 95 percent of the clues? Well, if someone sends me a great puzzle with an excellent theme and construction—you want fresh, interesting, familiar vocabulary throughout the grid—I feel it would be a shame to reject it on account of the clues, because I can always change them myself. This puzzle came from Elizabeth Gorski, one of the pros. Liz is great at putting fresh entries at the short spaces of a grid. That’s very hard to do. There was one thing about the construction I didn’t like, and that was at 35 Down. The answer was LORELAI, and the sirens on the Rhine are of course “Lorelei,” with an “e-i.” Liz’s clue was Rory’s mom on Gilmore Girls, and I didn’t think followers should have to know that. Sometimes I’ll do little fixes myself. But this was big enough that I asked her to revise the grid. You can see the new letters in blue, where I’ve amended the manuscript. Then the puzzle is accepted. I earmarked it for a Wednesday, because the theme consists of straight-forward English, but it’s a little playful.” Read more at The Atlantic

Via theatlantic:

How Will Shortz Makes a New York Times Crossword Puzzle

“Every crossword in the Times is a collaboration between the puzzle-maker and the puzzle editor. On average, about half the clues are mine. I may edit as few as five or ten percent of the clues, or as many as 95 percent for someone who does a great puzzle but not great clues. Why accept a puzzle when I’m going to edit 95 percent of the clues? Well, if someone sends me a great puzzle with an excellent theme and construction—you want fresh, interesting, familiar vocabulary throughout the grid—I feel it would be a shame to reject it on account of the clues, because I can always change them myself.

This puzzle came from Elizabeth Gorski, one of the pros. Liz is great at putting fresh entries at the short spaces of a grid. That’s very hard to do. There was one thing about the construction I didn’t like, and that was at 35 Down. The answer was LORELAI, and the sirens on the Rhine are of course “Lorelei,” with an “e-i.” Liz’s clue was Rory’s mom on Gilmore Girls, and I didn’t think followers should have to know that. Sometimes I’ll do little fixes myself. But this was big enough that I asked her to revise the grid. You can see the new letters in blue, where I’ve amended the manuscript. Then the puzzle is accepted. I earmarked it for a Wednesday, because the theme consists of straight-forward English, but it’s a little playful.”

Read more at The Atlantic

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  1. problemsolver reblogged this from mollyblock
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  8. ryanlrussell reblogged this from ryeisenberg and added:
    Always wondered about that.
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  10. ryeisenberg reblogged this from khealywu and added:
    ^ What Katey said.
  11. khealywu reblogged this from whiskeyrobot and added:
    I am not a Crosswod Puzzle Person but I would have WRECKED that particular clue you guys. WRECKED.
  12. theredshoes reblogged this from theatlantic
  13. pancakesforone reblogged this from theatlantic and added:
    OH. MY. GOD. Crossword puzzles are made by humans.
  14. sonowyouknow reblogged this from theatlantic and added:
    “Every crossword in the Times is a collaboration between the puzzle-maker and the puzzle editor. On average, about half...
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    “Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.” - G.I. Joe How Will Shortz Makes a New York Times Crossword Puzzle...
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