no-skips november day 14
In 2021, I attempted to post a new crossword everyday in an event I dubbed “NaCroWriMo.” Unfortunately, I was not able to complete this event and, as a result, I have carried that shame ever since. That is until this month.
For every day in November this year, I’m posting a new crossword puzzle in an endeavour I’m now calling “No-Skips November.” Some of these puzzles are themeless, some are themed, some were even constructed before November, but it doesn’t matter: I’m not skipping a single day on this blog. I’m posting a new crossword. Every day. For a month.
This is also an effort to drive subscriptions to my Patreon, which is the best way to support me directly! My Patreon ensures that I’m able to sustain myself financially during months with less puzzle work, so I can spend more time making the puzzles you enjoy. Subscribers get a new themeless puzzle every week, and Inner Circle members typically get an extra 3-4 puzzles per month.
The hardest parts of puzzles that I regularly have to write are the small corners: 3×3, 3×4, and 4×4. When I’m writing themeless puzzles, my standard for these corners is usually “keep them as clean as possible,” but I often start to second-guess this approach. I start wondering: “Is clean fill enough? Should some of these three-letter words be actively interesting? Do I have any three-letter seeds? Is ‘BTS’ overplayed at this point? Are abbreviations worth it? At what point do I down-score the word EMU in my word list?”
After a few minutes of contemplation, I achieve mental clarity. Everything makes sense again. For the 463rd time after coming out, I include ADA in a puzzle because it’s technically not crosswordese to me anymore. I clue it as Lovelace, or Rook, or Deer, or Twist. I look in the mirror and blow myself a kiss. My reflection catches it. Thanks, Ada—I’ll see you again in a few hours for this same interaction.
Enjoy the puz! I have a laptop again so posting is going to become a lot easier. Also: feel free to share the link, comment below if you like the puzzle, and check out my Patreon!
– Ada
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