First Puzzle

Your First Puzzle

Definitely get a program to generate puzzle grids. The best ones, like Crossword Compiler², have huge databases of words, can generate many different grid layouts in the cryptic crossword style, and in many different sizes (but 15x15 is pretty much the standard). They will also suggest lists of words to fit the grid.

I always select the words to use rather than let the program fill the whole thing in. The obvious problem with letting the program decide is that you don't get to use those clues that you've been busily writing in your notebook, and you'll end up with a lot of words that are impossible (or nearly so) to make into a good cryptic. So, I have a Python script³ that scans my private database of unused words/clues and suggests words that will fit the space and use the crossing letters. Usually, I can work six to ten of my prepared words into the grid. After that, the Crossword Compiler program will suggest words to fit. When scanning the available words suggested by the program, I use the same order of selection for candidate words as above. If none seems to work, I will try an anagram or a hidden word clue.

Clue writing is kind of an art. The best clues seem like snippets of poetry, or terse newspaper headlines. It takes time to develop your style. Often when a candidate word fits well into one of the above categories, the relation of the words in the cryptic part just don't align with the definition part. It can be difficult to make a readable clue that makes a modicum of sense. There are times, I confess, when I will use a clue that makes me wince whenever I read it. When your name is on the cover though, you want to make the thing perfect. On the other hand, don't try to make a perfectly clear and meaningful sentence by inserting extraneous words into the clue. Those extra words will just frustrate and anger your puzzle solver. Believe me, as a solver I've been known use choice words and even toss a book across the room when I encounter such poorly-constructed clues.

Filling the Grid

The safest method I've found for filling in a grid is to select words that I know I can make into good clues but hold off making the clues until the grid is filled in. Nothing is worse than having to jettison a really good clue because you have to backtrack from an impossible situation where no words fit or the ones that do are useless as cryptics. Hint: do not use a huge selection of oddball word databases with Crossword Compiler or other programs. The word list generated for you will include many useless words. The program won't know this and will tell you that you are safe to use a word when the only crossing words will be useless ones. Configure the program to use Basic English, American English, US English, Canadian English, phrases, and that's it. Avoid Literature, Wikipedia, and any others that include place names, exotic plants, chemical compounds and such. Those are included in the program to be used with standard crosswords.

Problem Letters

When selecting words, avoid words ending in a vowel other than 'e'; 'u' is especially bad. Often, you have to do it but there are a lot more words available that end in 'e'. Avoid words that when entered into the grid put consonants into places they don't work well in. Very few words end in 'q', or have 'q' as the second last letter ('Iraq', 'Iraqi' are the only ones I could find). 'x' rarely starts a word or ends it. 'b','f','j','v' and 'z' don't end many words except short ones. When entering words into the grid be very aware of the crossing letters you are setting up. Having 'x','z' and 'q' in the same word pretty much guarantees a problem. If you get stuck, unwind from the sticking point saving any clues you may have made up since if you can't use them in this puzzle, you may be able to use them in another.

2 https://www.crossword-compiler.com/

3 I will happily email any of my Python scripts to you if you want to get into the biz.