A reader reminded me today that I've been adding "no cheating" to my solving times without explanation. What's more, I realize now that "cheating" is a loaded term, which I should have avoided. So here's how I'm solving the New York Times crosswords to give you some context for the times.I normally download the "Across Lite" version of the puzzle from the New York Times site and print it out to solve with a pencil (and eraser). I try to do the whole thing on my own without resorting to reference books or internet searches. Essentially these are the same conditions as enforced in the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament and I'll describe it as "solo, no solving aids".
This often means I'm stuck for minutes on end, sometimes being roadblocked by clues that are a gimme to an American. Or I might have to guess letters at intersections where I'm ignorant of both crossing answers. If I've been solving for over an hour, or otherwise feel that I stand no chance, I ask my wife Magdalen to collaborate and we've invariably been able to finish even the most difficult puzzles that way.
Why do I solve in this painstaking way? Because I feel that it's the best way for me to learn the idioms used in American crosswords and the cultural knowledge that goes into them. I can tell from my solving times that I've made big improvements since I began blogging at the start of 2009. I love the challenge that these crosswords pose and, as is often pointed out, exercising the brain is a great way to keep mental fitness in old age.
Do I think that everyone should solve in this way? Absolutely not! You should solve in whatever way gives you the most satisfaction. I would positively recommend less experienced solvers to use reference books and/or resources such as this blog, as that speeds the learning process and allows you to progress further into the solving week, towards the delights of the wackier themes and clues that come with the end-of-week puzzles.
I should add that there are some exceptions to my usual routine for NYT puzzles: Magdalen and I normally solve the jumbo Sunday puzzle together; and we solve the weekday puzzles together any time we are away from home. In addition, we do a huge amount of collaborative solving outside of the NYT puzzles: we solve the Listener Crossword each week, any other cryptic crosswords we can get our hands on, acrostics, the NPR puzzle etc etc.
30 comments:
Thanks. I have learned quite a bit from your site and enjoy a different perspective.
Good to hear that ... thanks for your continuing support of the blog.
Thanks your blog is most insightful. I used to solve the NYT puzzles with my father; but since he passed away I lost all interest. I now decided to start trying again. Its very challenging I only wish my Dad was here to solve with me.
Mia -- I used to solve the NYT crossword with my mother, who died 12 years ago this week. She taught me a wonderful TLA (three-letter-abbreviation): CBA for Could Be Anything. Very useful for those clues, like "Make of car" or "Breed of dog," that need more crossing letters before you can solve them. I think of her whenever I get one of those clues.
I would *like* to think that she would have been tickled that I married Crossword Man, but my mother was old-school. I dimly remember she was not happy when Will Shortz took over the NYT and banished all the old chestnuts, like Orono (she lived in Maine, so it was a point of pride). But she would have had fun with it nonetheless; she would have enjoyed teasing Ross about his avocation. Alas, they never met.
I'm sorry about your dad. For what it's worth, in time the sweet memories balance out the loss.
Thanks m8, I'll be checking out your site often..I find I'm always stuck on the monday NYT crosswords and generally don't progress through to the Wednesday ones. Even tuesdays are tough for me.
As a New Yorker, there are times I look at the NYT puzzle and think, "No one will know that outside NYC." Some of the clues are really local.
Thanks for the feedback Alexander. I sometimes wonder if anyone reads the beginning-of-week commentary as it's clear from the traffic reports that the Thursday thru Sunday write-ups are the biggest draw.
drgaellon, I agree about the parochial nature of the NYT crossword sometimes, but it is a New York paper so I don't think anyone should complain! I have such problems with US-centric clues in general that the occasional NYC reference is neither here nor there.
As an American living in Italy, I do the Sunday NYT crossword for pleasure and to keep my english current. With bilingualism, it's so easy to become "slave to both, master of neither." Like you, I try to do it on my own (and it can take a full week, dipping in now and again). Isn't it the truth that when you're stymied, you need to put it aside and sure enough the next day - voilà! the light bulb goes on over your head. I enjoy your site and will continue to visit when those light bulbs are dim.
Thanks for sharing your MO, Elisabetta, and glad you like the site. I should maybe put the occasional puzzle aside myself, but tend to be blunder forward to get things wrapped up before bedtime.
Ross,
I just stumbled across your site and want to say THANKS for detailing your solving process. I do the NYT puzzle Mon-Wed, can't seem to get beyond that, have never even seriously tried a Saturday puzzle. TOO hard! But I easily solve the weekday puzzles in my hometown newspaper (LAT syndication, now)...so I really like to read about how others work, to help me get beyond my current limits. Thanks!
If you like Word Sudoku puzzles, please check out *my* blog, www.MagicWordSquare.blogspot.com, and please let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Dave
Hi Dave. Glad you like the posts. I'm also starting to solve LA Times crosswords, from anthologies in book form rather than current puzzles - entertaining puzzles and harder than I thought they'd be from their reputation. Magdalen is the Sudoku addict in the family - she's currently working on the London Times 2009 Sudoku calendar - they're fiendish enough that she's still working on July's puzzles!
Thank you for your posts. I enjoy reading about your process.
Thanks for the feedback - glad you like the write-ups.
Hi Anonymous. Never be ashamed of your friend Mr. Google. Best wishes for 2010, and may you have many more happy solving years ahead.
Just found your site today--fun read. Found myself stuck at 55 A, Victory Arch. After look up at your site, I was on my way to completion. Could not figure out yesterday's "ROME" clues though.
Glad to help out Devo - are you connected to what an NYT crossword once clued as {Rock group whose members wear red flowerpots on their heads}?
Your site has been so helpful to me - have only been doing the nyt puzzle for a year or so and thanks to a little help from you, am now able to get through to Wed. Those Saturdays are still way above me, however.
Thanks for the feedback gail - that's great ... it shouldn't be too long before you can get a Friday/Saturday done if you keep working at it!
I found your site today, when searching for an explanation of the Guinness suffix clue (which I didn't find on Rex Parker's site). I think I can relate to your your comments and explanations better than I can to Rex's. I tried to find the NYT puzzles online to print and work...the Across Lite you mentioned at the top of this post, but couldn't. I take you you have to buy an online subscription for this? - Sharon
Thanks Sharon. Yes, I think you now have to buy a subscription ($39.95 per year) to access the current NYT puzzles. That {Guinness suffix} clue was tough: I remember having to eat humble pie, as I didn't understand it until reading Rex's blog!
I've just discovered your blog, and am enjoying it greatly :)
I'm an Australian puzzle writer (syndicated), and in 2008 was asked by Wiley USA to be Technical Editor on one of their Dummies puzzle books - part of which was editing a stack of American crosswords! It was a steep learning curve for me, and like you I found local idioms tripped me up at times. I'm more used to cryptics.
Since then I've written two Dummies puzzle books for Wiley (USA) so have had to brush up my American spelling. I've submitted a proposal for "Cryptic Crosswords for Dummies" without success so far, there doesn't seem to be much interest in the American market - maybe Wiley Australia might be more receptive ... we shall see!
Cheers :)
Hi Denise ... that's an interesting story. The one Dummies book I've tried is Patrick Berry's "Crossword Puzzle Challenges", adveritised in the sidebar. It's an odd combination of a book of puzzles AND a book about puzzles, but the best thing I've yet read about the art of constructing US puzzles.
If there isn't already a Cryptic Crosswords for Dummies, well there ought to be. It would surely do well in the UK and Oz at least. Writing for an international audience about cryptics would be a challenge because of regional differences in e.g. abbreviations - but there is so much in common between the different cryptic traditions that I think it could be done.
Yes, the Dummies series is very set in stone with regards to format, there has to be an 'about the puzzles' component which is interesting, but doesn't always suit the genre. I've suggested they should develop a "Dummies Puzzle Series" which could just feature collections of puzzles, but I think they're politely ignoring me :)
The Cryptic Crosswords for Dummies book doesn't exist (yet!) - I will approach Wiley UK or Oz to see if there's interest there. They generally don't accept book proposals for this series, though. But I might get lucky. You're quite right, it would be a challenge to write so it covers an international audience, but as you say, I think it's feasible.
Best of luck with that project Denise. If you should ever need a consultant/editor/proofreader with international experience, you know who to come to! :)
Will definitely keep you in mind, thank you!! :D
Hate that I found your blog!:) Just started doing the puzzle about a month ago, and would always get stuck. I hated having to wait until the next day (or week) to get the solution. It sometimes takes extreme self control not to "cheat", but I love that I can now check when I am at a complete loss, which is (very) slowly happening less and less. Thanks!
Consider this blog your training wheels: you will soon be off on your own and just checking in for the intro.
Crosswords are like magic! Therapy, for sure. I wish they'd introduce it as a branch of English at the middle and high school levels! Young minds could get hooked on to this most absorbing, enriching pastime. That could well curb the incidence of drug use, crime, even "youthful indiscretions" - a popular expression among our politicians!
Very interesting ideas. The magic diet of crosswords has certainly worked for me.
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