How to Create a Crossword Puzzle | WIRED

David Kwong, a New York Times crossword puzzle constructor and cruciverbalist, introduces the concept of crossword puzzles. He explains that puzzles are ubiquitous and good puzzles make solvers feel smart. Drawing parallels between magic tricks and puzzles, Kwong shares his passion for both and how they intersect. He also discusses the 'aha moment' when a puzzle is solved and everything falls into place. Kwong's journey into crossword construction began in college, where he started by constructing puzzles and submitting them to the New York Times, despite initial rejections. He eventually succeeded and now writes for major newspapers, including the New York Times, with the daily puzzle being 15 by 15 and the Sunday puzzle being 21 by 21. The first step in creating a puzzle is to come up with a theme that runs throughout the puzzle. For this example, Kwong chooses playing cards as his theme and aims to hide 10 jack, queen, king, and ace within other words in the puzzle.

The process of crafting the crossword puzzle is detailed, emphasizing the importance of long answers that are parallel and of equal length. Kwong demonstrates how to place these long answers in the grid, using rotational symmetry found in every puzzle. He explains the placement of black squares, likening it to a Utah shape, and how they should be distributed to avoid making the puzzle too easy. The video also covers how to address difficult letter combinations using databases like onelook.com to find suitable words. Kwong illustrates the use of symmetry and the avoidance of clumps in black squares to maintain an aesthetic and challenging pattern. He also discusses the rules of crossword construction, such as no two-letter answers and the necessity of checking every letter both horizontally and vertically.

Kwong concludes the video by discussing the final steps in creating a crossword puzzle, which include writing clues for each answer. He explains that clues vary in difficulty depending on the day of the week, with easier clues for Mondays and harder ones for later in the week. The process of clue writing is demonstrated, with examples provided for theme answers and how to adjust them for difficulty. Kwong also emphasizes the importance of a final check to ensure that no words or clues are repeated in the grid. He reveals that he has hidden another puzzle within the video, challenging viewers to find it by looking for specific letters on his lapel pin and the color-changing pattern of his shirt, which, when put in ROYGBIV order, spell out 'diamond'. This completes the royal flush theme of the puzzle. Kwong also hints at three additional hidden words related to the theme but leaves their discovery to the viewer's solving skills.