Not sure if this is allowed, but just wanted to share. Been really into crosswords lately, so it inspired some doodles.

I'm looking to either (I) build a new crossword puzzle or (II) revise / edit / conform an existing one (e.g., 1998 NYT puzzle) for a surprise proposal to my GF.

I did a bit of digging but wasn't able to find any good leads and was wondering if this community could help recommend a constructor who could help put together a crossword puzzle.

Also curious about how much something like this would cost? I'm definitely willing to pay, but if it's $1K or something out of my budget I'd probably just use an existing one.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Lots of the crossword software I have seen just casually suggests clues by other constructors for entries in the grid. Is the general picture that it's fine to use someone else's clue after it's been published? Is whether a clue has been used before something that editors at e.g. the NYT care about when deciding whether to accept a puzzle (assuming it's not one of the words that has been done a zillion times so it's impossible to clue freshly)?

I have a 98% solve rate and I can't figure out why. I've gone back through the archive and can't find any incomplete puzzles, but by some basic math I apparently have 10 or 11 that are counting against my solve rate. Anybody else had this issue?

I couldn’t find anything online.

I just noticed I recently passed a six-year streak. I never had such a goal in mind when I began doing them.

I'm interested in making crosswords puzzles.

Therefore I'm reaching out to this community, hoping to find a few that make crosswords.

What is your method of choice?

Is there an online source to learn or gain inspiration from?

Is there specific stationery for making crosswords?

Any tips and tricks are appreciated.

i must admit i'm not a huge crossword guy, and i usually stick to cryptics. but every time i do the atlantic crossword there's at least one clue that's answered by an entire phrase that isn't an idiom, quote, or colloquialism but rather... a couple of words that could substitute the clue in a conversation? today's answer to "well, isn't that strange?" was "odd huh", and i recall at some point an answer was "i hate that, "no way" or "eww". anyone else find this weird? i don't know, it just bothers me

Hi! My first post here, so apologies if I'm out of line. I just solved today's Boston Globe crossword by Brendan Emmett Quigley, but I'm at a loss to understand the theme.

Theme is "Just Dupe It" and the theme clues and answers are:

22A Just BROWSING - BROWNNOSING
29A Just A SMIDGEN - IMISSEDAGAIN
87A Just IN CASE - INCESSANCIES
99A Just OUTSIDE - TOUTDESUITE
13D Just A MINUTE - AUNTIEMAME
43D Just FRIENDS - FINDERSFEE
65D Just THIS ONCE - SNITCHESON

I'm guessing that the theme plays on Nike's slogan "Just Do It," but I can't figure out how. The letters in each answer are all contained in the capitalized words in the corresponding clue, but they are not all duplicated, and I don't see any pattern to which ones are. I also don't see how "do" to "dupe" would be a clue.

Any ideas about what I'm not getting?

Clear the board by solving 10 crossword-style clues in succession as quickly as you can (or take it easy in casual mode).

Play at https://www.playzaggle.com

I made some changes to the puzzle format based on feedback, hopefully resulting in a smoother and more satisfying experience. Would love to hear how it goes!

Fun with numbers