Chapter 5
Ten Tricks for Successfully Tackling
the Trickiest Puzzles
In This Chapter
▶ Preparing for success
▶ Taking some simple steps when you’re stuck
▶ Seeking outside helpT
his chapter offers ideas for how to set the stage to succeed at working a
challenging crossword. I also offer some simple tricks for trying to push
through the inevitable solver’s block: the feeling that you’re truly stuck mid-
puzzle and can’t find a way to move forward.Nailing Down Your Puzzle Editor’s Style
The person responsible for compiling and styling the puzzles in a certain news-
paper, book, or Web site is called the puzzle editor, and it can help to get familiar
with that person’s style. As I mention in Chapter 1, the difficulty level of a cross-
word depends on how the clues are written. Whether the puzzle editor creates
each crossword himself or edits crosswords from other puzzle constructors, his
influence on the style of each puzzle is strong. For this reason, when you first start
working puzzles, it can help to focus on puzzles published in the same source.Setting the Mood
The right environment to work a crossword depends on your personal prefer-
ences, of course. For me, these things are essential:✓ A comfortable chair
✓ Silence or soft music
✓ Good lighting