How I constructed today's crossword puzzle || Tue 6/14/22 New York Times Crossword

New York Times Crossword, Tuesday 6/14/22
Today is super special for me, since I am making my debut as a crossword constructor in the New York Times. I hope you enjoyed solving it. If you have any questions for me, leave them in the comments down below! Here are my constructor notes that I provided to www.xwordinfo.com
My older sister first introduced me to crossword puzzles when I was in middle school and she was visiting home from college. I enjoyed solving them with her, but in the years that followed, my crosswording was mostly limited to in-flight magazines and the back page of my college newspaper.
But during the lockdowns of the pandemic, doing crossword puzzles helped to keep me sane. I was gifted a NY Times subscription (thanks Phil!) and the crossword became part of my daily routine. I started recording videos as I solved the puzzles, and posted them to KZbin ( / crosswordrobert ) to share with friends. Even when we were all stuck at home, we would meet on Zoom to chat and solve crosswords and cryptics together.
All of this puzzling got me thinking about how crosswords are put together and what themes I really enjoy. I hope figuring out the theme of my puzzle brings you some joy. Other themers I considered were LITTLE FINGER and BLACK SESAME. I also wonder how many people have PET LOBSTERs.
Special thanks to Liz Chen, Alex Lazar, and Oriana Wen, who are great test solvers and even better friends.
Thanks for liking, commenting, subscribing, and sharing the video!
▶ Daily puzzle (subscription required): www.nytimes.co...
▶ Mini puzzle www.nytimes.co...
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All music composed by my friend: composer, pianist, and all-around awesome guy Christopher Chan - christopherkch...
Spotify playlist: open.spotify.c...
Video of crossword theme: • The Crossing of Words ...
Intro animation by Tiffany Peng, another incredibly talented friend. [I can highly recommend Chris and Tiff if you need any music composed for you!]
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#crossword #puzzle #crosswords #crosswordpuzzle #nytxw #nytcrossword #nyt #nytimes

[@jackofallspades98]

Congratulations!! I have a soft spot for this exact kind of theme as well, the "first word is a type of X, second word is a type of Y" idea is just really satisfying to me for some reason. In fact, I made my own puzzle (that I submitted, but it wasn't accepted) with this theme format where the revealer was RACE AGAINST TIME, with the themers SACK LUNCH, DRAG DOWN, BOAT SHOW, and HORSEPLAY. I'm still really proud of it :D

[@CrosswordRobert]

I like it! What did the editorial team say about your theme?

[@jackofallspades98]

@@CrosswordRobert "This was solid work, but unfortunately, the theme wasn't grabbing us quite enough to say yes. This sort of word-that-can-precede theme has become a little too familiar." It was basically what I expected. I made sure that the puzzle checked every single possible other box so that the only reason they could turn it down was because of the theme itself.

[@bbctol5703]

this themeset is really clean, your pride is absolutely deserved

[@CrosswordRobert]

@@bbctol5703 totally agree! Frankly it seems cleaner than mine

[@nathanhasegawa7315]

As a fellow New York Times constructor, welcome to the club! I remember that feeling when the NYT published one of my puzzles for the first time, and this video reminded me a lot of that day, which brought me a lot of joy. I hope you enjoyed this experience, and I hope to see you again soon!

[@atwilson0328]

Congrats!! And great puzzle! I think you're too hard on the fill, it was smooth but never boring. Personally, I don't always love question mark cluing so I didn't miss it. "Litter producer" is good though. Also nice comments about reshaping your previous puzzle and software for construction.

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks! Also thanks for encouraging me to construct and pointing me in the direction of the NYT articles on construction over a year ago. That's really why I started trying my hand it!

[@annaschauer5236]

Great puzzle! It’s smooth and the clues are clever and fresh. Loved the theme - it did take a moment to “get it” which made the Aha moment even more fun

[@naterodenburg5977]

This is awesome to see! I have only recently (less than two weeks) gotten into crosswords because of your videos and its super cool to see you constructed your own! It makes me want to try my hand at constructing some point in the future. I'm not very good yet, but everyday I'm improving, and at some point soon I'll finish my first NYT crossword with no hints. Awesome stuff!

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks! Welcome to the world of crosswords! After you've been solving crosswords for just a little bit, if you think you might enjoy construction, I think it's very reasonable to start constructing pretty soon!

[@tottle321]

Congrats Robert! Your videos helped me a ton in getting into solving, it was an awesome surprise seeing your name on today's. Really enjoyed the puzzle.

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks!

[@ckcpiano]

Congratulations! On to the next one!

[@CrosswordRobert]

Let me know if you want to co-construct =P

[@jimmybojiggle]

Robert Won truly won

[@CrosswordRobert]

Hahaha thanks!

[@erotangos816]

So proud of you!!!! Congratulations, it was fun!!

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks! Can't wait to see you in July!

[@jasonpackham]

Nice solve. Way to pull TELEOLOGY out quickly. And good catch on concupiscent containing the probable etymology for Cupid. I haven’t looked it up but that’s a solid clue

[@jasonpackham]

Oops. Commented on wrong video. 😅

[@matthewstock3765]

Excellent puzzle, congratulations on the debut! Hope to solve more of your stuff soon :)

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thank you! Now I really hope I haven't made a bunch of mean and trivial nitpicks on your puzzles on my channel... 😬

[@SethPuzzles]

This is awesome. I remember this one and just checked my archive, and I solved this one in 19:27, which is 5:13 slower than my current Tuesday average. I only started solving daily in 2022 (after a 25-year hiatus from my college days).

[@SethPuzzles]

"Support for a queen" would have been a better clue, but less Tuesday!

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks Seth Puzzles! Everyone should go check out your solves!

[@quinnmatthews2931]

Man, this was a great video! I've been solving the NYT daily crossword on and off for a few years now. The idea of making my own has recently entered my head. Your video was the first I've watched to help me figure out how to do it. Great puzzle and congrats on the debut, I'm sure you're still stoked about it a year and a half later!

[@CrosswordRobert]

Oh the stoked feeling continues to this day! Best of luck as you start constructing! It's also great fun!

[@raf.4028]

congratulations! it must feel incredibly surreal to see your name mentioned. a lovely puzzle for a tuesday too. kudos!

[@CrosswordRobert]

It was indeed a surreal experience! Had a super fun day as lots of friends who I didn’t even know were crossword solvers reached out to me

[@JosephHolschuh]

This is the sort of behind-the-scenes that is fascinating to see. Love the video and explanation, Robert. (p.s. - Love the clue Java w/out the plugins.)

[@CrosswordRobert]

If you ever want to discuss construction, let me know! Are you working on anything?

[@jamesandrewes9640]

Congratulations! I enjoyed solving this one, and think that the theme is clever. Definitely took a second to figure out what was going on after I had the grid filled.

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thank you and glad you enjoyed it!

[@a.b.boucher9722]

congrats!! i stumbled upon your vids a while ago and i'm glad i did since it got me into solving :) was super psyched to see your name on today's grid!!

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks!

[@freddiecheng2739]

Congrats Rob!

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks Freddie! It's pretty special to have a bunch of veteran constructors in the comments section here.

[@laurencehooper]

Congratulations on the debut! That is great to see.

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thank you! Hope you enjoyed it!

[@laurencehooper]

@@CrosswordRobert I did enjoy it, and your review of your own work was very fair. Would love to see a separate video on your constructing, as you suggest, and also maybe along the way to hear about your first two NYT rejections -- what you learned, whether you then submitted them elsewhere, etc.

[@ClaraBanya]

Congratulations!!🎉🍾

[@paolopasco7827]

Great puzzle!

[@CrosswordRobert]

=O The famous Paolo Pasco! Thanks! I've done so many puzzles by you.

[@danielnakasone4728]

Huge congrats on the puzzle!!

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks!

[@saysteve]

Congrats on the debut! (Welcome to the club!) A nice puzzle for sure - enjoyed having a bit of thematic depth on an early-week puzzle.

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks! We even shared a test solver I think =P

[@saysteve]

Indeed!

[@brianroddy7379]

Congratulations! Fun fill.

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks! Glad you found it fun!

[@timchapman6337]

congrats robert! it was a joy to solve

[@timchapman6337]

edit: i also think of the pastry as a "jelly roll"

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thank you!

[@lhp-nguyenainghi4494]

I'm 16, been solving crossword puzzles for a while. I've just started on trying to make my own puzzle but 've met with a lot of difficulty with the grid design. Can you please make a video about how you started like from the very beginning? i would appreciate it a lot!

[@CrosswordRobert]

That's been on my mind! Will keep it even in the forefront of my mind! If you'd like to chat construction, you can email me at [e-mail]

[@ClaraBanya]

Congratulations!!🎉

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks Mom!

[@JoshuaRappeneker]

Really impressive debut! Fun theme and some great clueing!

[@JoshuaRappeneker]

Just wanted to add, your original 11 across was a slur (in Australia) so I can see why they might have changed it

[@CrosswordRobert]

@@JoshuaRappeneker thanks! And fascinating… had no idea

[@briand8043]

Congrats on the puzzle. That’s pretty awesome. That timeline is a lot longer than I would of guessed. But really interesting info nonetheless!

[@derek-rogers]

It's very interesting to me how much they edit and pare things down! When you submit a puzzle, do you have to specify which day you're aiming for? Or could they have seen your slightly trickier clues and made it a Wednesday puzzle instead of simplifying them?

[@CrosswordRobert]

I didn't have any input on day of the week (I guess 21 x 21 means Sunday and themeless means either Friday or Saturday, but beyond that, there's no way to really designate). I wonder if I could have asked if I really specifically wanted a day of the week.

[@rtdavis]

Congrats!!

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks!

[@maria_x]

Congrats! I'll have to nitpick "java without the plugins" with you some other time :P

[@petergoeckner4070]

6:17. Thought this was a clean fill and a nice debut for this constructor. (Can’t actually watch vid due to lack of internet rn but excited to see it later)

[@CrosswordRobert]

Lol idk I heard some bloggers had some nits to pick.

[@petergoeckner4070]

You could also be referring to the artists’ residency in Dakar, Senegal called BlackRock!!

[@Stephanie-so6gj]

CONGRATS

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks! Let me know if you stream!

[@dauph_222]

great work!

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thank you!

Congrats! :)

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thank you!

[@merunicorn]

yay rob!!!!! 🎉🎉🎉

[@CrosswordRobert]

Congrats to @liz chen for keeping it a secret too!

[@samakafrisco1759]

MY MAN

[@b3z3jm3nny]

yooo congrats!

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks!

[@rtdavis]

Were you expecting this to be a Wednesday puzzle when you were originally constructing it?

[@CrosswordRobert]

I think that's roughly what I was aiming for. Makes sense that they tried to ease it up a bit from that.

[@olivergeraghty2646]

Do Americans not use the word 'setter'? Maybe just for cryptic crosswords?

[@CrosswordRobert]

I was just talking about this with someone in real life when they asked what someone who makes a crossword puzzle should be called. I told them that in the UK you'd probably say "puzzle setter" but in the US you'd more likely say "constructor", but I wonder if that's an oversimplification. In all my communications with the NY Times editing team, they seem to use the word "constructor" (like they ask for "Constructor's Notes" for the Wordplay blog). The New Yorker article announcing the return of the cryptic crossword also uses the word "constructor" www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/cryptic-crossword/announcing-an-all-new-weekly-cryptic-crossword-from-the-new-yorker

[@validpostage]

what keyboard/switches are you using? sounds nice

[@CrosswordRobert]

Haha a keyboard aficionado! Currently waiting on a group buy keyboard to come in Q3, so typing on a Durgod Taurus with MX browns

[@bryanbischof4351]

Holy shit!

[@CrosswordRobert]

Did Ravi enjoy it?

[@bryanbischof4351]

@@CrosswordRobert I stopped the video so I can solve it first. Will solve tonight then watch ;)

[@bryanbischof4351]

Oh my. I did not understand coffee roll. I don’t think of those as called that. 🥲

[@bryanbischof4351]

I didn’t love the clue for blackcoffee. Yours was better.

[@CrosswordRobert]

@@bryanbischof4351 Your coffee undergoes meticulous preparation.

[@stephenclarke7596]

This is brilliant--mega congratulations and I love the theme. FWIW I like LITTER PRODUCER? and hope you get a chance to use that in the future

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks Stephen! Maybe I need to start working on another puzzle...

[@nlb26869]

whooooo congrats! your clues were better 😀🦞

[@CrosswordRobert]

Thanks! Actually, according to the blog, *special* thanks