Posts

puzzle #12: that's bull! (themeless)

I've returned! In the last couple months I've had an AVCX puzzle published, and had a great time at the Boswords summer tournament. I can't wait to see so many people at Lollapuzzoola in a week! Then school starts and things are going to get crazy. Here's a themeless puzzle! Clues in this one are kinda all over the place because I felt like it. Hope you enjoy! Music rec down below as always. puz pdf

puzzle #11: all i've ever known (themeless)

Hey all, good to be back. A few notes: I'm turning 21 in a few hours! Nice to be back in the NYT last Saturday! I had a blast solving the Westwords tournament online, where I was glad to come in 4th place behind the greats Will, Andy, and Erik. Excited to be in person for the Boswords tournament in four weeks! I'm back with another themeless (though you might find a little mini-theme in it—thanks to Quiara Vasquez for suggesting how to implement that).  Song rec down below—I just saw Lizzy last night, and it was an incredible show! puz pdf

puzzle #10: How 'bout we try this? (themeless)

Hi all! It's been a while. Great to see everyone in April at the ACPT! I've got another puzzle, themeless as per usual. Song rec down below as always. .puz pdf

puzzle #9: ever-returning spring (themeless)

Happy March! Spring is just around the corner, so please enjoy "ever-returning spring," my latest themeless puzzle! This one should be medium-difficult. Music rec below the puzzle as always. Side note: ACPT is coming up in just over a month and I'm so excited to go for the first time! I hope to meet a lot of solvers and constructors that I haven't yet met elsewhere. .puz pdf

i got a puzzle published for the first time!!!

Hi! Spoilers below for my puzzle (NYT Friday, 2/2/24)! . . . . . . . . . . I'm so excited to have been published in the New York Times today! This puzzle was genuinely the first themeless I ever wrote, excluding this semi-themeless puzzle which I don't really count. So it's definitely a bit surprising that it got published, but it's a pleasant surprise. I'll go into some more details to expand upon what I said in the Wordplay article. As I mentioned there, my main seed was at 33A, which I had in my very short list called "themeless seeds????" in my "crossword ideas" note on the Notes app. I honestly don't remember how it made its way in there, but it may have had to do with this bit from Lemony Snicket in A Series of Unfortunate Events (it also appears in the book but I've watched the series much more recently than I read the books) (also, my original clue for 33A referenced that line, but it's definitely a niche reference). Anyw...

puzzle #8: just for kicks (themed)

Hi all and welcome back to the blog! I hope everyone's last couple months have gone well—I've been busy as usual. Happy Thanksgiving to anyone who celebrates. I've got a new themed puzzle! Hope you enjoy! .puz pdf   And here's a music rec as always:

puzzle #7: wishing my name were Phil Grid (themeless)

Hi! Welcome back to the blog! The semester's been keeping me a bit busy but I've still found some time for constructing. Here's another themeless—hope you enjoy! .puz pdf And here's a music rec: