Crossword Puzzle Challenges For Dummies

by Patrick Berry

Eight bonus chapters explain how to construct your own puzzles!

Open the book for a brand-new collection of brain-twisting puzzles

Looking for a crossword challenge? All you have to do is open the book, sharpen your pencil (or, hot shot, uncap your pen), and get ready to match wits with Patrick Berry, one of today's top puzzle constructors. You get 70 all-new crosswords that are guaranteed to test your puzzle-solving skills - plus a special bonus section that shows you how to create (and sell) your own challenging crosswords.

The Dummies Way
* Explanations in plain English
* "Get in, get out" information
* Icons and other navigational aids
* Tear-out cheat sheet
* Top ten lists
* A dash of humor and fun


Discover how
* The secrets of crossword construction
* How to craft a memorable puzzle theme, from quotes to reversals and rebuses
* The tricks to designing and filling a grid
* An insider's guide to writing great clues
* Ten top markets for crossword puzzles

Genres: Nonfiction

186 pages, Paperback

First published March 26, 2004

About the author

Patrick Berry is a crossword and word puzzle constructor. He lives in Athens, Georgia.

Reviews

[Zack Zeller]

This is the real work.

[Patrick]

Good resource! Definitely illuminated several nuances in the xw construction process that I had not noticed or though about before. Excited to give constructing another shot! (whenever I get the mf time again...)

[Two Readers in Love]

Very fun puzzles, but the real bonus of this book for us was Part II, "Constructing Crossword Puzzles Like a Pro." The information here is much better than guides we've found online or in forums. The author shares rules and guidance for developing a puzzle theme, creating a grid, and writing clues all illustrated with clear examples of the pros and cons of different approaches.

We've always enjoyed becoming engrossed in completing a crossword. Thanks to this book, creating crosswords for each other has added a whole new dimension to our shared escape.

[Pita-eater]

As many have already noted, this book has a misleading, highly unfortunate title. It is not about how to solve crossword puzzles. It is in fact a manual for how to create newspaper-worthy crossword puzzles, like those found in the New York Times. Mr. Berry graciously shares his expertise in this a one-of-a-kind guide. Having read it, I am now making my own puzzles quite happily.

[Izzy]

Incredible resource! I was researching everything I could find on crossword puzzle construction and watched several Youtube tutorials, however there were still huge gaps in my knowledge regarding rules and details. I had many questions I couldn’t find the answer to myself, but it was all answered in this book.

Patrick Berry’s an exceptionally clear and to-the-point writer, making this a quick and fun read. Thank you so much for this wonderful work, Patrick!

[Brian Herrick]

Very helpful for constructors.

[Z Makila]

Literally a godsend that I will be returning to often.

[Mike]

The title is completely misleading. Not only is this book totally NOT for dummies, but the text of the book is really about puzzle constructing, not solving. Actually, it's more like two books. In the first book you get 70 great crossword puzzles, of increasing difficulty. I'm up to number 20, and I'd say it's about NYT Wednesday to Thursday difficulty. So, you get at last 40 puzzles above NYT Thursday level, definitely not dummy stuff! The other book is a treatise on crossword puzzle construction, a fascinating read even if all you do is solve puzzles.

[Brent]

This would be the manual on how to create your own crossword puzzles--not the cheesy ones with unsymmetrical grids, but those that newspapers publish. The author, a professional crossword puzzle creator, instructs on how to do it. He writes well, and the instruction is entertaining. 70 new puzzles are included.

[Matt]

Very clear (and helpful) advice about making crosswords, and 70 new crosswords to boot.

[Matt Kelly]

I really good primer of practical advice with examples on crossword puzzle construction.