Crossword lover Dorothy Lyall recently asked me how I compile crosswords.
I start off with the black and white pattern of squares which we call a grid. This grid has to be carefully designed so that there are no two-letter words, not many very short or very long words (ie a reasonable number of words of different length), and all the words must join up of course! It’s not as easy as it sounds.
I usually start in the most difficult part of the grid, with an inspiring word that I’ve either come across recently or haven’t used for a while. I then fill in the spaces that are connected to that word and so on.
When I’ve filled words into the whole grid I then write the clues. The exception to this is when I’m compiling cryptic crosswords, in which case I write each clue straight away before I put the next word in.
I try to make the clues challenging but also as accurate and brief as possible.
Once I’ve finished writing all the clues, the crossword is then checked for errors and sent to the art production department.
The artists lay out the puzzle on a page ready for publication and it then comes back for another check.
After a final third check, it is sent off to the printers and the next thing that happens is that you will be solving it in a Lovatts magazine.
Happy puzzling!
Like some additional crossword compiling tips?
→ Check out our crossword compiling tutorial
