Words: 32 (9×9)
Average Length: 4.00
Some crosswordese comes from architecture (OGEE, APSE, EAVE), some from geography (ARAL, URAL, RIA), some from the arts (ASTA, SMEE, IAGO). And then there’s food and drink, perhaps the richest source of this less-than-nourishing fill. I usually try to eschew these stale words, but for this week’s mini I stuffed as many commonly-used, calorie-laden words as possible into the grid. Bring an appetite, and come back Sunday for a meaty, well-seasoned themeless.
Words: 79 (16×15)
Average Length: 5.16
I do my best singing in the car. It’s still not good, mind you, but the enclosed space and built-in vibrato from the road have a salutary effect. So, having crafted puzzles about music and food, music and plants, music and reptiles, music and transportation, music and weather, music and aging, and various other “music and” topics, it’s time for a puzzle about music and cars. Put it in gear and solve away!
Words: 68
Average Length: 5.68
A terrific constructor, Tim Croce (club72.wordpress.com), often creates grids around a 12-15-12 stack in the middle. It’s not a trivial undertaking, as I learned in trying his architecture here. He also includes lot of common-but-not-too-common expressions in his grids, so I figured I’d up the constructing challenge by making all three answers in the middle stack “in the language” phrases.
Enjoy, share, and please check out Club 72; you’re in for a treat. (I don’t know Tim, and I’m sure he has no idea who I am. I just like pointing solvers to other constructors whom they might appreciate.)
Words: 77 (16×15)
Average Length: 5.40
A gardener, an insurance agent, a calculus professor, a low-cost lender, and a baby food executive submit novels to a publisher. All are rejected. Why? Solve and find out!
Words: 72
Average Length: 5.42
I’m not usually one to pat myself on the back – for one thing, I’m not that flexible – but I’m really pleased with this grid. It’s packed with juicy answers, including Taylor Swift lyrics, two historical French scandals, some schmaltz, and jeans from the ‘70s. I hope you enjoy it!
Words: 11 (5×6)
Average Length: 4.73
The inspiration for this puzzle came from a Brian Bilston poem, “Hear, [1 Down], and Everywear.” If you’re not familiar with him, Brian Bliston is an English poet who is funny, sharply observant, self-deprecating, and brilliant at exploiting the weirdness of the English language.
Words: 77
Average Length: 4.86
Some time back, I passed a frustrating morning trying to get through to a live person at various institutions, each of which robotically reassured me of my valued status. A couple of hours later I figured out a way to create a puzzle around the statement beginning at 20 Across. (I don’t believe the statement generally is true, but if it is, why does it keep happening?) Any way, I hope you solve this in less time than you normally have to wait on hold.
Jeff's Puzzles