I got a letter from Will Shortz!
sort of
For those of you dont know (and virtually everyone I've told this to doesn't know, which I guess says something about my own level of loserdom), Will Shortz is the crossword puzzle editor for the New York Times and is basically the god of the crosswording world.
Most of the puzzles I write (or help write) for the paper here are both 21x21 (Sunday size, and to get a Sunday puzzle published it had better be very good) and in gross violation of many of the rules of more highbrow puzzles like the Times (case in point, i managed to insert both the words PENIS and ORGASM into the last puzzle. While the latter might be acceptable in a mainstream puzzle, the former most certainly is not). However, over the summer I tried my hand at writing a 15x15 puzzle good enough for the Times (I had a good theme already) and finally came up with one that worked that didn't violate any of the rules. Or so I thought. It wasn't stellar, but it got the job done, and I submitted it to the Times before coming back up to school. Today I heard back from them via email. It was a long-expected rejection letter, but its still really cool to see an email from wshortz in your inbox.
Hi [Me],
This is Paula Gamache writing, helping Will Shortz with correspondence.
Will asked me to say thanks, but that he must send regrets on your Sioux headline 15x. There are 80 words in the grid, 2 more that the maximum allowable for a 15x, and also 46 black squares, 6 more than the maximum allowable.
For future reference, the specifications for crossword puzzle submissions to The New York Times can be found at the Cruciverb website. Go to www.cruciverb.com and click on Specification Sheets in the left column. There you will find a detailed description of what constitutes a well-crafted Times crossword, which may be helpful to you in your efforts going forward.
Best regards,
Paula
I didn't even know about those rules (or that website), though I suppose I could take another crack at that same theme this time following them. Rewiring the grid on a puzzle is less of a revision and more of a "start again" gesture, but I don't have any other choice. When I have the time (winter break mayhaps) I'll give that one another shot.
Also to keep in mind--it takes them about three months to get back to you when you send them something, so don't expect a prompt reply next time.
For those of you dont know (and virtually everyone I've told this to doesn't know, which I guess says something about my own level of loserdom), Will Shortz is the crossword puzzle editor for the New York Times and is basically the god of the crosswording world.
Most of the puzzles I write (or help write) for the paper here are both 21x21 (Sunday size, and to get a Sunday puzzle published it had better be very good) and in gross violation of many of the rules of more highbrow puzzles like the Times (case in point, i managed to insert both the words PENIS and ORGASM into the last puzzle. While the latter might be acceptable in a mainstream puzzle, the former most certainly is not). However, over the summer I tried my hand at writing a 15x15 puzzle good enough for the Times (I had a good theme already) and finally came up with one that worked that didn't violate any of the rules. Or so I thought. It wasn't stellar, but it got the job done, and I submitted it to the Times before coming back up to school. Today I heard back from them via email. It was a long-expected rejection letter, but its still really cool to see an email from wshortz in your inbox.
Hi [Me],
This is Paula Gamache writing, helping Will Shortz with correspondence.
Will asked me to say thanks, but that he must send regrets on your Sioux headline 15x. There are 80 words in the grid, 2 more that the maximum allowable for a 15x, and also 46 black squares, 6 more than the maximum allowable.
For future reference, the specifications for crossword puzzle submissions to The New York Times can be found at the Cruciverb website. Go to www.cruciverb.com and click on Specification Sheets in the left column. There you will find a detailed description of what constitutes a well-crafted Times crossword, which may be helpful to you in your efforts going forward.
Best regards,
Paula
I didn't even know about those rules (or that website), though I suppose I could take another crack at that same theme this time following them. Rewiring the grid on a puzzle is less of a revision and more of a "start again" gesture, but I don't have any other choice. When I have the time (winter break mayhaps) I'll give that one another shot.
Also to keep in mind--it takes them about three months to get back to you when you send them something, so don't expect a prompt reply next time.