Words: 22
Average Length: 5.09
I always found the 1A/20A relationship both satisfying and, particularly when chocolate is involved in 20A, effective. (And if those chocolates happen to be of the edible variety ….)
Author: Jeff
Words: 74
Average Length: 5.16
Several years ago, I posted a Thanksgiving puzzle (“I’ll Never Be Your Feast of Burden”) that was chock-full of Thanksgiving-related entries. (I’ve slightly updated that puzzle, but it still shows my relative construction inexperience back then, particularly with so many 3- letter answers.)
This year, I wanted to try something different. Today’s grid has nothing related to the holiday in it – but if you read down the first letters of the Across clues, you’ll see my heartfelt expression of gratitude to everyone who solves my puzzles.
Speaking of gratitude, I need to single out fellow constructor Jeanne Breen for special thanks. Because of the constraints imposed by the Across cluing, some of those clues were a bit clunky as first drafted, to put it kindly. Moreover, the original version of the SE corner was drecky, which isn’t a word but should be. I asked Jeanne if she had any ideas, and she not only greatly improved the most troublesome clues, but came up with a whole new SE corner that is leagues better than the original.
Jeanne is a talented constructor of all manner of word puzzles, which you can – and should! – match wits with on her site, In Pursuit of Puzzles. Follow her, and while you’re at it, follow me if you’re not already doing so! The more followers we constructors have, the more visible our puzzle sites are in search results.
Categories
Rebranding
Words: 15 (6×7)
Average Length: 4.53
Here’s a simple theme that came to me at 5 a.m. Monday while my jet-lagged body was trying to decide whether it was time to wake up. (It wasn’t.)
Categories
Themeless 116
Words: 72
Average Length: 5.42
The seeds for this themeless were 20 Across and 50 Across. I’ve lived by 20 Across plenty of times, and taken 50 Across in many places around the world. The advice in 18 Across comes from a jazz band director I had in college; unfortunately, I’ve used it plenty of times as well.
I got back last night from two phenomenal weeks in Egypt on a trip booked through Smithsonian Journeys. If you’d like to read about it and see lots of photos of pyramids, temples, and colorful royal tombs from 4000 years ago, please check out my Puffinless Travel blog.
Categories
Solve Like an Egyptian
Words: 42
Average Length: 4.71
I’m nearing the end of two phenomenal weeks in Egypt, during which I’ve gotten to see the pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the new Grand Egyptian Museum, Abu Simbel, and the temples and tombs of Luxor. The sights have been spectacular and the Egyptian people warm and welcoming. Here’s a puzzle celebrating this wonderful country.
I’ve been blogging about the trip on my PuffinlessTravel blog – please stop by to see photos and read all about it.
Categories
Full Inbox
Categories
Stars Crossed
Words: 14
Average Length: 5.29
I started with the grid shape and 8 Across and then looked for some interesting stuff to go around it. The result has a bit of an unintended celestial theme.
Categories
Themeless 115
Words: 70
Average Length: 5.34
The seeds for today’s puzzle were 33 Across (snarky clue included) and 8 Down (a “wrong” answer in a trivia game a few months ago, the same game that gave me the clue/answer to 42 Down).
By the way, Flossie and Freddie in 16 Across come from the “Bobbsey Twins” series of children’s books, which were all the rage around 60 years ago. (Their older twin siblings were Bert and Nan.)
Categories
Apparently So
Words: 18
Average Length: 4.56
I read something Friday morning that included the phrase in 5 Across, and then 9 Across popped into my mind, which tells you how insufferable my mind can be at times. Then I came up with 1 Across (which I might have seen in a puzzle before), and decided I had to make the grid work with those three entries as the top three acrosses. After I finished a draft, I came up with “Herr apparent” as a clue, but couldn’t think of a corresponding answer. Perhaps you’ll see it in a future grid!
Categories
Hits the Spot
Words: 73
Average Length: 5.10
Today’s puzzle is clued very gently (for me) – guess I was in a particularly mellow mood when I constructed it. I figure it’s a good tonic after last Thursday’s jeremiad.
Jeff's Puzzles 