Making a Mini by Hand
“I just can’t figure out how constructors get everything to fit together! I’m wondering if now they use software to help fill in around the theme words, like, What word has A in the second spot, H in the fifth spot?” — Judy C., Groton, N.Y. Thanks for the question, Judy! This is Joel Fagliano, longtime puzzle editor here at The Times. I create your daily Mini crossword, the spiritual cousin of Easy Mode. A majority of constructors do use computer software, but it has its limitations. It can’t come up with original fill words for you, since it relies on existing databases of answers from dictionaries and word lists. It also doesn’t have a real sense of what interesting fill is — it just tries to solve the math problem of getting all the words to cross. That’s why I advise everyone who’s learning to make puzzles to try a few small ones by hand. You’ll learn a lot of the basics that way, and it’s an engaging mental exercise (not to mention a fun way to pass some time doodling). So, how to start? Well, first, pick one or two seed entries. Maybe you’ve thought of a funny clue-and-answer pairing, or a word with lots of interesting letters. For this exercise, I’ll use EASY and MODE.
Next, go to the most constrained pattern in the grid. An answer like 1-Across has no letters filled in, while 2- and 4-Down each have two, so the possibilities for those answers have been drastically reduced. I’ll try EGOS at 4-Down and ISLE at 2-Down, but a warning: This part involves trial and error! You might want to keep in mind that answers like EROS and I SEE are also possibilities in case you hit a dead end.
When you have a pattern like the one at 5-Across that looks hard to fill, consulting a friend or a pattern-matching website like onelook.com can help. Here, thankfully, we have one available word, AGILE, which helps us out of this bind. I will leave the rest up to you, the reader, to puzzle out. Can you finish making this crossword yourself?
Solve Friday’s Crossword on Easy Mode!
For expert hints on today’s puzzle, read the Wordplay column. Were you able to solve the Friday puzzle with Easy Mode? We want your input! Share your experience with us by email. Easy vs. HardIn today’s daily Friday puzzle, 51-Across has the clue [Current affairs?]. This nifty clue is not about today’s goings-on, but rather a different meaning of “Current.” For Easy Mode, Christina went with [Branch of physics involving currents and magnets]. See if you can solve the answer!
How are we doing? Thanks for playing! Subscribe to New York Times Games. If you were forwarded this newsletter, you can sign up to receive it regularly here. P.S. The answer to Easy vs. Hard is ELECTRODYNAMICS.
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