One of the reasons why I’ve come to appreciate test solving so much is that it really helps me to sound out what I’m intending to convey in a clue versus what’s coming across in it—that is, what is distracting a solver from a smoother surface? I’ve spoken a lot on stream (and this blog) about what I’m looking for in clues, but while I’ve internalized that, I’m not always successfully externalizing it, and that’s where these weekly puzzles and the rap sessions with trusted solvers are helping me to really iron out my self-expression. In short: if you don’t have test solvers, I strongly recommend you find some. (I’m always happy to help.) Finding a streamer can also help you think about how you might want to phrase things in the future.
That said, don’t ever sacrifice your own goals to accommodate what individuals might want. Your puzzles don’t have to be for everyone! Don’t feel like you need to “dumb them down” or use a different dictionary. If I’ve learned anything from the intros to each Out of Left Field puzzle it’s that difficulty is highly variable from person to person, and while some like discovering new words, others find archaisms to suck the life out of a grid (I’m in that latter camp). So let me see if I can start codifying some of the things I’ve editorially chosen to avoid in these puzzles.
#1: Limit proper nouns, especially unsavory ones. Last week’s grid initially clued YE by referencing Kanye; this week’s at one point talked about the famous judge from the OJ Simpson trial. Beyond not wanting to evoke certain topics, I want to be precise about the things I want people to know or learn, whether that’s about a Tesla or a Langston Hughes poem.
#2: Find the most appropriate words. Do a web search if you don’t believe me: there are tons of various indicators to use for each type of cryptic clue, and those are just the ones that have been recorded. My favorite surfaces are the ones that use the indicators and/or synonyms that best match the topic of the surface so that the whole thing sounds more natural. A lot of this comes from drafting and testing: you get a framework for the desired effect and then you ideally keep shaping it until the final product is seamless.
Anyway, that’s a start; I’ll try to add more to this list each week! Until then, enjoy the latest puzzle over at Crosshare (.puz also found there) or grab the PDF below.
The Crossword Scholar 