Category
Constructing
Notes from the workbench: theme development, fill, cluing, software and getting published.
How to Make a Crossword Puzzle
The mindset, the rules and the tips: a complete walk through building a crossword from a blank grid to a finished clue list.
Why the First Twelve Squares of a 15x15 Grid Matter Most
Theme entries, symmetry and the black square budget: a tour of the top-left corner, where most crosswords are won or lost.
Fill Quality Versus Theme Ambition
When the theme forces ugly fill, something has to give. Where editors draw the line, and how to tell which side of it you are on.
How to Get Your First Crossword Published
Submission guidelines, response times, pay rates and what editors actually reject - with the rejections sorted by frequency.
The Crossword Constructor Software Stack
Grid editors, word lists, scoring and export formats: what each tool actually does, and which decisions the software cannot make for you.
Who writes this section
One good puzzle a week. No filler.
New articles, constructor notes and a fresh mini crossword every Sunday. Free, and easy to leave.