I have today’s puzzle in Newsday. Titled Face the music, it’s my debut puzzle in a print publication, so I’m obviously pretty happy about that.
The entire process has been a very positive learning experience. The Newsday puzzle editor, Stanley Newman, has been a fantastic (and patient) guide throughout. Working with Stan at Newsday is highly recommended.
In this post I want to provide a deep dive on the process, for a number of reasons: (i) as a useful resource for those looking to publish their own puzzle for the first time; (ii) as an interesting read for those curious about the process; and (iii) simply as a reference point for myself.
This post is a 10-15 minute read, I estimate.
I’ll look at the following: (i) theme development and query; (ii) theme placement and gridding; (iii) adding the fill; (iv) clueing; and (v) publication.
Before you go any further, I recommend solving the puzzle. You can find it on the Newsday crossword page, for 7 December.
Theme development and query
After using a ‘musical idiom’ in normal day-to-day life, I realised that there were more in-the-language musical idioms, and therefore there was the potential for a nice theme set.
My first step: thinking of as many idioms as possible, writing them in various tenses, classifying them in some form, and identifying how long each phrase was (the goal, of course, was to identify a theme set of four or five entries with the same classification and tense):
I stopped at this point, as I already identified a likely theme set (in bold), meeting the criteria of having the same category and tense: (i) HIT THE RIGHT NOTE (15); (ii) CHANGED YOUR TUNE (15); (iii) WENT FOR A SONG (12); and (iv) STRUCK A CHORD (12).
As a first-time print constructor, I was interested in getting fast feedback before continuing with a theme set. I checked Matthew Stock’s Crossword Publication Specs sheet to find venues open for submissions that also accept theme queries. I sent it in.
The first venue rejected the theme, stating: “this theme feels a bit scattered, since TUNE and SONG feel similar and NOTE and CHORD feel similar so we’re not sure all together they form a cohesive set”. There were also (in retrospect, extremely valid) concerns about my proposed clueing angles for the theme set.
I still felt the theme set was suitable for publication, and that the feeling of incohesiveness likely came from my clues. I adjusted those and sent it to a second venue: Newsday.
Less than 24 hours later, Stan responded accepting the theme set as a Wednesday puzzle! One typical crossword alteration, though: adjust CHANGED YOUR TUNE to CHANGED ONES TUNE.
As a Wednesday puzzle and first-time submitter, Stan asked me to take small steps and first come up with a 78-word grid, with the theme set placed.
Theme placement and gridding
A 15-15-12-12 theme set is pretty flexible and standard, so I started with a typical grid of themers in rows 3, 6, 10 and 13.
I came up with this initial grid, identifying the most constrained crossings as 8D, 10D and 46D (highlighted). However, with Crossfire telling me that this grid was fillable, I submitted.
Rejected.
While fillable, there was really only one high-quality entry possible for 10D: BIG ASK. A fun piece of fill. However, one option is not sufficient, Stan said. Serious problems very likely lay ahead with such a constrained start.
This was the most valuable piece of feedback I received. A grid shouldn’t just be fillable: it must be optimised: minimising constrained points and giving you as many options as possible (with a particular focus on entries crossing two or more themers).
My second attempt was much better. The three most constrained entries (49D, 18D and 19D, in that order) still had plenty of high-quality options. Accepted.
Adding the fill
Stan’s next step was for me to partially fill the grid. No clues yet. The initial goal was to see that my conception of “Newsday easy” entries was relatively close to his and met the style guide requirements. We started with the four corners.
I was very happy with this initial proposal. I felt all entries were easy enough, while also allowing some fun clueing angles (especially for GHOSTED, NO TASTE, SPANK, and CUSS AT). I shared this with Stan, with the following additional comments regarding the SW corner:
- 52A: I believe CUSS AT is more well known, but the alternative CUTS IN can also easily be substituted here.
- 52D: I would love to include BOCCE (it’s a fun sport!), but I’m not sure if it’s easy enough for a Wednesday Newsday. If so, that corner can all be a bit livelier.
- One great alternative was NASCAR and NACHO at 52A/D respectively, but this led to being forced to use ONES at 69A. Arguably that duplicates part of CHANGED ONES TUNE, so I opted against it.
However, Stan’s feedback came thick and fast. “ASANA is not easy enough for a Wednesday Newsday. SPANK and CUSS AT aren’t typically acceptable for Newsday puzzles. NO TASTE is easy enough, but not easy to define in a straight-forward way. ONCE/ONES in the SE is a near duplicate to be avoided.”
Recognisable feedback. Newsday’s Monday to Wednesday crosswords are some of the easiest around, heavy on straightforward clueing and very light on anything potentially offensive or too risqué. I reworked the problem points and came back with this grid, which was accepted as-is:
Stan requested the full grid to now be filled.
I was happy with this. A good mix of straight-forward entries, allowing a mix of clueing types and the odd pun. There were a few spots I could get my ‘voice’ to come through (which can be hard in really easy puzzles). Stan had two nits:
- 7D, OBIT. “No one ever dies in a Newsday crossword”. An approach I can get behind.
- 51D, ACNE. No comment with this, but I assume it doesn’t pass Stan’s “breakfast test”.
Given how close the grid was, Stan himself made the relevant adjustments:
- 7D became A BIT, forcing acceptable changes to 8D (from RUGS to PUGS) and 6A (from CORN to CAP’N). This was already one of my alternative fills for this area (I keep a folder full of screenshots of alternative fills for each section).
- 51D became ACME. This triggered a number of changes in the south section, with Stan’s proposal for 57D being ADAH {Esau’s first wife}.
I wasn’t happy with ADAH. While I felt it was a bit obscure, I anyway prefer to avoid religious knowledge in my puzzles, if possible. I riffed off Stan’s suggestions in that area and came back with ADAM {Comedian Sandler} for 57D, along with some other minor changes.
As a newbie, it was stressful “challenging” the suggestions of a long-time professional editor such as Stan: I simply didn’t feel like I had the cachet to do so.
Stan replied within a day: “I prefer your section. Editors need editors too.” It was time to move on to clueing. What a great, empowering response to a newbie.
Clueing
I love clueing. But it takes for-ever.
Clueing easy crosswords like a Newsday Wednesday should feasibly be relatively straight-forward. However, if you want to squeeze in some fun clues and get your voice in your puzzle (which everyone should), it can almost be harder than normal.
Stan started off by requesting about a third of the clues. This was to ensure I had a “reasonably accurate mental picture of how the clues need to be”.
It looks like I did, with my clues accepted without comment. I put together the rest of the clues, which he again accepted without comment.
Here’s the final grid I submitted (with clues: puz, pdf):
Publication
I submitted the final grid in early August, with a response that it would be published some time in December. In early September the exact date was known.
In the meantime, a couple of administrative tasks:
- Sign a standard legal agreement, asserting that the crossword is my original work and that I assign all rights to Stan.
- Provide a profile photo and short biography for partners who publish this material alongside the crossword.
Then I waited. When the day finally came, I solved the puzzle and noted the clueing differences.
This is an occasional hot topic in the crossworld. Many constructors argue that any and all significant clue changes should be checked with the constructor beforehand, because it’s their name posted alongside the puzzle.
I certainly understand and agree with that. However, with my first published puzzle being an early-week Newsday crossword, I trust that Stan knows his audience better than me (a non-American, especially).
Nevertheless, here’s an overview of the adjusted clues. I’ve put those that I’m a little sad to see changed in bold, with my comment:
| Entry | My clue | Published clue | Comment |
| ATARI | 70s Pong producer | Video game pioneer | I always prefer specificity, and Pong’s a classic. |
| CAP’N | Rank of Quaker’s Crunch | Ship’s skipper, for short | |
| ILLS | Woes | Woes | |
| CARES | “Who ___?” | Gives a darn | |
| ABUT | Border | Share a border with | |
| NOAH | Trevor of “The Daily Show” | Trevor of “The Daily Show” | |
| HIT THE RIGHT NOTE | Did the most suitable thing for the situation | Do what’s especially appropriate | |
| ELSE | Otherwise | Otherwise | |
| GETS | Grasps | Sees the point of | |
| WISED | Smartened (up) | Smartened (up) | |
| SAGE | Learned one | Guru | |
| DINERS | Road trip restaurants | Roadside restaurants | |
| WENT FOR A SONG | Sold very cheaply | Was sold very cheaply | |
| AVAST | Salty “Stop!” | Nautical “Halt!” | I like alliteration when I can fit it in. |
| DUO | Pair | Pair of people | |
| SHOW | Demonstrate | Demonstrate | |
| RIM | Cup’s edge | Cup’s edge | |
| SEE HERE | “Now, listen…” | “Now, listen…” | |
| EVE | December 24 or 31, for example | December 24 or 31 | |
| PLEA | Beg | Defendant’s statement | |
| ADO | Kerfuffle | Needless fuss | |
| AGREE | Concur | Concur | |
| STRUCK A CHORD | Evoked an emotional reaction | Affected someone emotionally | |
| CUTS IN | Interrupts, at a barn dance | Interrupts, on a dance floor | |
| ECHO | Typical yodel reverberation | Tunnel’s sound effect | |
| ASHEN | Ghostly pale | Very pale | |
| AHEM | Attention-getting cough | Attention-getting sound | |
| SLIP | Slide | Minor mistake | |
| CHANGED ONES TUNE | Did a 180 on | Started acting differently | Just a personal preference. |
| TENT | Campground shelter | Campground shelter | |
| CAMO | G.I. garb, often | Hunter’s garb, for short | |
| HERON | Long-necked wader | Long-necked marsh bird | |
| IRKS | Annoys | Annoys | |
| OMEN | Prophetic sign | Prophetic sign | |
| EDENS | Nirvanas | Blissful places | |
| ACHE | Pine (for) | Muscle soreness | |
| TAIL | Shadow, as a spy | Back of a comet | |
| ARTS | The A of STEAM, in education | __ and crafts | Just a personal preference. |
| RETESTS | Examines again | Makeup exams | |
| ISH | Suffix meaning “Sorta” | Suffix meaning “sort of” | |
| CAREER | Vocation | Line of work | |
| A BIT | Slightly | Slightly | |
| PUGS | Dogs with flat faces | Dogs with flat faces | |
| NTH | Ultimate math degree | Utmost degree | |
| INNINGS | Baseball and cricket divisions | Baseball game segments | I’m British — of course I want to get cricket in there! |
| LOOSE | Liberal, as an interpretation | Not at all tight | |
| LATER | “See ya!” | In a little while | More colloquial. |
| SHEDS | Gets rid of | Storage buildings | |
| EGGO | Frozen waffle brand | Toaster waffle brand | |
| TWIN | Identical sibling | Exact double | I have identical twin daughters, so duh! |
| AFTS | Area inside ships’ sterns | Matinee times: Abbr. | I don’t like AFTS as an abbreviation. |
| DOOR | Peephole place | Place for a keyhole | |
| WARP | ‘Star Trek’ speed scale | Twist out of shape | I’m a proud Trekkie. |
| EVIL | Demeanour of many a fictional 19-Down | Wicked | I thought this was an amusing cross-reference to TWIN. |
| NAMES | Expecting parents’ decision | Phone directory listing | Just a personal preference. |
| AD HOC | Impromptu, as a committee | Committee descriptor | |
| SUE | Take to court | Take legal action | |
| HERO | Super- or anti- suffix | Guy getting a medal | I much prefer the gender-neutral (don’t argue with me) angle. |
| OVER | Not under | Higher than | |
| WEED | Root (out) | Unwanted garden growth | |
| EARN | Pull in | Deserve to receive | |
| EDU | End of an academic address | End of a university URL | |
| EACH | Apiece | Apiece | |
| ASSENTS | Agrees to | Gives approval | |
| GHOSTED | Stopped all contact with | Wrote uncredited for another | Much more modern usage. |
| TING | Little bell’s sound | Little bell’s sound | |
| KEEN ON | Enthusiastic about | Enthusiastic about | |
| ACME | Looney Tunes corporation | Highest point | Who doesn’t like a Looney Tunes reference? |
| CACTI | Spiny succulents | Spiny desert plants | |
| USHER | Direct, as at a theatre | Theater worker | I prefer the slight misdirect. |
| THANK | Express gratitude for | Express gratitude to | |
| ADAM | Comedian Sandler | The first person | I prefer the non-religious angle. Everyone knows Adam Sandler, right? |
| HOME | Where a point might be driven | Where you live | Just a personal preference. |
| LURE | Tackle-box tempter | Angler’s gadget | |
| IN ON | Drop ___ (visit unannounced) | Close __ (approach) | |
| PENS | Composes | Signing ceremony souvenirs | Just a personal preference. |
| ECO | Green prefix | Earth-friendly prefix | |
| SHE | Spaceship pronoun | What to call a spaceship | Slight preference for including the word ‘pronoun’, happy they kept ‘spaceship’. |
And that’s my puzzle. I hope you enjoyed my write-up and I hope to share more published crosswords with you in the future.
If you’re an aspiring crossword constructor looking for a publisher, I definitely recommend this route. I know the NYT is the big fish, but I definitely implore you to take a wider view and consider other venues as a priority (don’t forget the indies, too!). Stan was a dream to work with and I hope to work more with him in the future.
