It’s Elementary!

By Jared Goudsmit, 22, Missouri

Medium: CrossFire, XWordInfo word list

Crossword construction is not only an art, but an exercise. The strict constraints of the 15×15 grid force me to erase and try again, without doubt or shame. Puzzlemaking also forces me to ask if a project is possible, rather than if it is perfect. In a strange way, that makes the whole process liberating. It’s taught me that a finished work of art, even with its warts, is ALWAYS better than a hazy, maybe-someday-perfect idea. Stephen Sondheim made crosswords for a reason: they force you to work your creative muscles. I’d encourage any young artist to give puzzle construction a shot.

In this piece, I started with a theme: I wanted to wedge four related words in a New York Times-style grid. (You can find these words hidden at the end of 17-, 37-, 43-, and 64-Across.) I then added the long bonus entries at 3- and 33-Down and filled in the grid from the outer corners inward. I hope this piece is challenging, but accessible for new solvers.

Instagram: @jared.goudsmit