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Constructing => Etc. => Topic started by: panthroman on September 19, 2018, 12:06:18 AM

Title: Making crosswords as gifts
Post by: panthroman on September 19, 2018, 12:06:18 AM
I notice a lot of questions are about submitting and selling puzzles, but I wonder how many folks make crosswords as personal gifts -- like making someone a birthday card. Anyone make personal puzzles?

Cheers,
Jake
Title: Re: Making crosswords as gifts
Post by: mmcbs on September 19, 2018, 08:12:09 AM
Yes, I did this for my honey's 70th birthday party. 17x17 puzzle with 75 theme letters symmetrical plus one extra themer.
Title: Re: Making crosswords as gifts
Post by: panthroman on September 19, 2018, 07:52:59 PM
I assume it's easier than a "for the public" crossword, since you can draw on idiosyncracies of the reader. It seems so hard to write a crossword for the general population, since it's hard to know what words/clues they'll find too simple, too esoteric, etc.
Title: Re: Making crosswords as gifts
Post by: mmcbs on September 27, 2018, 07:56:02 AM
Well, when you're making a crossword puzzle, it's not really for the "general population" but for the people who enjoy crossword puzzles. There's a wide range of degree of difficulty, ranging from the very easy Monday puzzles typical of, say the Los Angeles Times, and the sometimes nearly impossible themeless Saturday Stumper in Newsday. Editors select puzzles from their submissions based on how they fit (if at all) into their portfolio, and they quite often tweak the clues of puzzles so as to fit better for the audience they're targeting. Sometimes they request revisions to change words in the grid that they don't want to use. So, don't let that uncertainty hold you back - once you've started getting feedback from editors about your submissions, it will all start to fall into place.