A (Non-Cryptic) Crossword

[Buenchico]

It's ages since I last compiled a crossword so, for the small handful of people here who seem to enjoy non-cryptic ones, here's my latest challenge to download. I reckon that it's easy but that might just be because I know the answers ;-)

https://myfile.org/3ee6l4c8b8/Baffler0817.pdf
(Click the GREY download button - it's simplest)

Solution available on request if anyone actually needs it!

[seekeerz]

I love these, will do ASAP !!

[murraymints]

printed off for this afternoon ta chris x

[dannyk13]

One or two tricky ones Chris, A good brain workout.

[Mamyalynne]

Ta Chris.x

[marval]

Thank you Chris.

[Lie-in King]

Ta Chris :-)

[Caran]

Thanks Chris, just printed it off.

[arjay]

Thank you for the giant non-cryptic crossword, Buenchico.
Your name is familiar to me as you are always answering requests for help from myself and others in the crossword section of Answerbank.
I am fascinated by the expertise of crossword compilers.
I have always thought that it must need a special talent close to being a genius to compile a crossword puzzle.
Obviously compilers must not only perform the difficult task of fitting all the words into a grid, but they also have to write the clues.
Although I could never compile a crossword myself, I would be most grateful to hear from you how it is done. (I hope you will not consider my request too presumptuous.)
I am not asking you for detailed "trade secrets" but just for a general idea of how it is done.
Did you teach yourself or did you learn from books such as those available from Amazon at around £25?
Is there a computer programme in existence which helps compilers? (I have seen draughtsmen using computer aided design instead of a drawing board. )
How long does it take to produce the grid section,please?
Your name is familiar to me as you often reply to requests for help on the crossword section of the Answerbank.
Finally, is there any chance that you will publish a cryptic crossword one of these days. Thank you

[Buenchico]

Last bit first, Arjay:
I'm absolutely rubbish at cryptics, so it's unlikely that you'll ever see one from me!

I'm just a bumbling novice at setting crosswords. It's another AB member, AnaxCrosswords, who's the real expert. He sets cryptic crosswords for several of the heavyweight newspapers:
https://anaxcrosswords.wordpress.com/about/

I believe that the main software he uses is this (which costs £39 for the basic product, with optional extras adding to the cost):
http://www.crossword-compiler.com/

He also recommends this (at £100):
http://www.crosswordman.com/

My own method is far more basic (but cheaper!), using pencil & paper for much of the task. I start with a blank 23 x 23 grid in Microsoft Publisher, which I print out. Then I label the columns from 1 to 23 across the top and the rows from A to W down the left. I then do the reverse starting from the bottom right-hand corner, so that if (say) I shade square D5 near to the top-left of the grid I can immediately shade 'the other D5' near to the bottom right, thus ensuring the symmetry of the grid is maintained.

I then fill in (say) the word I want as the answer for 1 Across, remembering to shade the square immediately to the right of it and it's 'partner square' at the bottom of the grid. Next I might fill in the word I want to use for 1 Down, remembering to shade in the square on the end of it AND square B2 (because it can't easily be used) AND their 'partner squares' at the foot of the page.

Having got a couple of words filled in at the top left, I then think of words which will fit in the corresponding places at the bottom right. (I try to ensure that those words use lots of letters such as 'e', 'n' and 't', rather than, say, 'q', 'x' and 'j', as other words will need to end with those letters).

I then gradually build up the grid, remembering to shade all of the necessary squares and to mark (with a red dot) every square where a word starts (because that's where the numbers will need to go later).

Obviously, as more and more words get entered into the grid, it gets harder to find words which will fit in with the intersecting letters which I've already placed. It's at that stage that I turn to this superb dictionary programme. (It's a freebie!):
http://www.sequencepublishing.com/1/thesage.html

If say, I need a word to fit in with _A_E__N, I enter '?a?e??n' and click the 'Wildcard' button. That instantly offers me 'caveman', 'Hamelin', 'gamelan' and much more.

Once I've completed the grid on paper I return to Publisher, numbering all of the relevant sqares and shading in all of the black squares.

The next task is to write the clues. I use The Sage on my computer, and a printed copy of the Concise English Dictionary to help me. I'll often look for the least obvious clue for a word. (e.g. if I need a clue for 'arch' I'll probably ignore any reference to architecture and find a clue which uses the word as in 'arch rival').

When I think that I've finished I'll print out the crossword and try to answer it myself from the clues. (I'll usually find that I've omitted a clue or two, or made a typo, so that check is definitely needed in order to end up with something which I'm prepared to put online).

The whole thing probably takes around the equivalent of a working day but I tend to do it in short sessions across several days.

Easy peasy, really!

;-)

[Buenchico]

PS: As I don't compile cryptic crosswords I don't have to worry about complex clues. Those who want to hone their skills in that field though will probably join this web forum, where they can participate in clue-writing competitions and seek advice from others:
http://www.ukpuzzle.com/phpBB3/index.php
(It's run by AnaxCrosswords, so there's a real expert in charge!)

[arjay]

Thank you very much Buenchico for your interesting and comprehensive reply. Much appreciated, especially as it is in the early hours of the morning.

[Caran]

Hi Chris. Just finished your crossword. It's taken me three days to do it. It was your toughest one yet.
Thoroughly enjoyed it. Great to have a different mind compiling.
Thanks very much.

[Mamyalynne]

Not often you see two letter answers in a grid either , a good one Chris ta.

[Buenchico]

Thanks for your responses.

I intended it to be moderately hard but, going by what I've read above (and the obvious frustration of my crossword-loving mates who tried it in the pub last night), it seems to have caused rather more problems than I intended ;-)

[Cloverjo]

That was interesting, Buenchico. I was asked to compile a crossword for the parish mag, but couldn't do it. I like crosswords, but writing my own seemed impossible.

[Buenchico]

Thanks, Cloverjo.

I'm still learning how to do it!