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: 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: 72
Average Length: 5.31
Get those neurons firing – this one will probably put up a fight. Just a couple of notes: (1) the new book from 3 Down, “Everybody’s Fool,” is excellent. (2) If you ever get the chance to fly 60 Across, do so – my 12-hour flight from DC to Dubai was a pleasure! (3) If you ever get the chance to go to Iceland (see 47 Down), do so – it’s a beautiful, friendly, fascinating country with a great music scene.
Words: 70
Average Length: 5.43
This one may not play as difficult as my usual themeless, but I’m really not sure. I was aiming for a smooth, open grid with relatively few 3-letter answers (6 in this case) and this is what emerged.
I’m inordinately pleased with the clue for 57 Across, though I don’t wish to presume anything about the relevant couple’s legal affairs. Please enjoy and share!
Words: 66
Average Length: 5.76
This is a tough one, for sure. For solving assistance or just because it’s a great song, here’s a link to the Bob Marley recording referenced in the clue to 5 Down. I hope you enjoy it – come back Wednesday for a gentle mini (as yet unconstructed, but I promise it’ll be gentle, or at least reasonably so) and next Sunday for a medium-difficulty themed puzzle entitled “Gorp.”
Words: 16
Average Length: 5.00
This one probably plays tougher than usual for a midi – I clued it at roughly the difficulty level of a full-size themeless. Enjoy!
Words: 70
Average Length: 5.57
One thing (of many) that I love about crossword construction is that I learn stuff – sometimes “neat” (e.g., 21 and 49 Across) and sometimes silly (11 Down, which is hilarious in an I-shouldn’t-find-this-funny kind of way). As much as I enjoy filling a grid – thinking three steps ahead to consider whether a word will work with the rest of a section – cluing is more intellectually challenging. How difficult do I want the puzzle to be? What’s a good misdirection? Are there any interesting factoids I can work into a clue? Are the references that come to my mind head-scratchers for younger solvers (i.e., 90% of the audience)? (The last problem, among many others, is dealt with by my test-solver, son Adam. Thanks Adam, again and again!)
Words: 72
Average Length: 5.25
I recently heard someone say 1 Across and thought: (1) You rarely hear 1A 1A. (2) 1A could be a decent seed for a themeless, especially because I’d just listened to Buffalo Springfield (seminal ‘60s band) and 1A is the first word of the title of one of their signature songs. The other four words of the title are scattered through the puzzle, as are the names of the song’s composer/lead singer and one of his bandmates. So maybe it’s not really a themeless, but whatever it is, I hope you enjoy solving it!
Jeff's Puzzles