Are there crossword competitions?
The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament is a crossword-solving tournament held annually in February March or early April. It was founded in 1978 by Will Shortz, who still directs the tournament, and is the oldest and largest crossword tournament held in the United States.
How much does a crossword constructor make?
Salary Ranges for Crossword Puzzle Makers The middle 50% of Crossword Puzzle Makers makes between $60,250 and $68,413, with the top 83% making $114,530.
Which day of the week has the hardest crossword puzzle?
Saturday crossword
The Saturday crossword is actually the hardest puzzle of the week. Mondays have the most straightforward clues and Saturday clues are the hardest, or involve the most wordplay. Contrary to popular belief, the Sunday puzzles are midweek difficulty, not the hardest. They’re just bigger.
How do you win at crossword?
Tips for Solving Crossword Puzzles
- Work in pencil.
- Be loyal to a puzzle editor.
- Think about theme.
- Fill in the blanks first.
- Focus on small (three-to-five-letter) word entries.
- Visit Crosswordese.com.
- Get trivial.
- Eye abbreviations and acronyms.
How do crossword puzzles work?
The goal is to fill the white squares with letters, forming words or phrases, by solving clues, which lead to the answers. In languages that are written left-to-right, the answer words and phrases are placed in the grid from left to right (“across”) and from top to bottom (“down”).
What does FR mean in a crossword puzzle?
Foreign words will be flagged directly, “Friend: Fr.” = AMI or indirectly, “Friend, in France”. Abbreviated answers are indicated directly, “Whistlestop (Abbr.)” = STA or indirectly with an abbreviated word as part of the clue, “RR stop” = STA. These cluing conventions are the accepted norm for American-style puzzles.
How much do you get paid for a crossword puzzle?
Traditionally, crossword construction has not been a very lucrative field. Over the years, these rates have increased numerous times. The Times currently pays $300 to $450 for weekday puzzles and $1,000 to $1,200 for Sundays.
How much do crossword writers make?
Where can I sell crossword puzzles?
List of Places to Submit Professional Crossword Puzzles
| Submission | Size and Maximum Word Count | Payment |
|---|---|---|
| The Chronicle of Higher Education | 78 words for 15×15 81 for 15×16 | $150 |
| Crosswords Club | 144 words for 21×21 | $300 |
| The Magpie Crossword Magazine | N/A | £90 |
| Puzzle Junction | 15×15 or 21×21 | $25 for 15×15 $50 for 21×21 |
When is the next American crossword puzzle tournament?
The 44th Annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament will be held in person (fingers crossed) on April 1-3, 2022 at the Stamford Marriott. A virtual version, without prizes, is planned to run at the same time. Directed by New York Times Crossword Puzzle Editor Will Shortz, this is the nation’s oldest and largest crossword competition.
How many crosswords are in the New York Times puzzle competition?
Directed by New York Times Crossword Puzzle Editor Will Shortz, this is the nation’s oldest and largest crossword competition. Solvers tackle eight original crosswords created and edited specially for this event. Scoring is based on accuracy and speed. Prizes are awarded in more than 20 categories, including a $3,000 grand prize.
Is there a virtual version of a crossword puzzle competition without prizes?
A virtual version, without prizes, is planned to run at the same time. Directed by New York Times Crossword Puzzle Editor Will Shortz, this is the nation’s oldest and largest crossword competition.
How many women have won the American crossword puzzle tournament?
Three women have won the tournament: Nancy Schuster in 1978, Miriam Raphael in 1979, and Ellen Ripstein in 2001. 22 of the 76 (29%) second- and third-place finishers have been female. A plot of the total number of contestants attending the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.