Blog du Wren

Another Crossword - FAMILY TIES

As often happens with me and creative energies, I find an outlet and stay with it for a while. It happened about this time last year with writing nerdy word games*. This year's borderline obsession is creating crosswords. I've incorporated the feedback I got from the 3 people that attempted the last one("It's too hard!" and "Weak!") and hopefully this one will prove much better. Check it out and let me know what you think: FAMILY TIES.

Since I seem to be taking to writing crossword puzzles so eagerly, I thought it might be fun to look into what it takes to get one published (and how much it pays.) Cruciverb.com seems to be the site to go to for that type of information. In a nut shell, you gotta minimize black spaces, use symmetric grids, use as few dumb clues as possible, and do a good theme. That seems straight forward enough. Each paper/organization has its own guidelines on top of those as well as prices. It looks like the going rate is between $65 and $200*.

Anyway, I've got a new goal for the list: become a published crossword [author/creator/artist/guy]. Any feedback you can give would be great. I'll be sure and thank you in my acceptance speech for "best crossword dude from a personal blog" category at next year's Crossies.

Tuesday February 12 2008

File under: games, coding

Toggle Comments (6)

comment?

on Tue 12th Feb, 2008 10:27 pm PST Jule said:
Your last crossword was great, mostly cause you helped me with it. Actually, I loved the theme.
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on Tue 12th Feb, 2008 10:46 pm PST Jule said:
1a. Ma's son's enjoying wordgame:WRENSFUNCROSSWORD I will finish the rest of MY crossword later
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on Wed 13th Feb, 2008 10:17 am PST Nesbitt said:
This Blog has become awfully intellectual: crossword puzzles, political cartoons, visits to art museums...when are you coming out with the "BlogduWren Book Club?"
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on Wed 13th Feb, 2008 07:01 pm PST gretchen said:
done!
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on Sun 17th Feb, 2008 07:34 pm PST kris kefgen said:
Hi Wren, I'm having fun figuring out your crosswords puzzles. How in the heck am I suppose to know what Ma's brother's place in the woods is? It's fun anyway, and your're really good at this stuff! Keep it up. Kris
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on Mon 18th Feb, 2008 06:10 pm PST rus said:
check accross, is it only one c? passed is past keep it up
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