Q: How did you consider this puzzle’s theme? Did you begin from considering of the phrase SOCIAL CLIMBER, or did you begin from wanting a puzzle the place some solutions would have to be entered in an unconventional means?
A: The latter. I haven’t seen a ton of puzzles of that kind these days — I believe possibly they’ve fallen out of trend a bit — however I at all times get pleasure from fixing them, and I’d by no means truly made one myself. I began by considering of ascent-related phrases, after which phrases that embrace these phrases; I landed on SOCIAL CLIMBER fairly rapidly, each as a result of it’s evocative by itself, and since SOCIAL is utilized in a whole lot of different phrases.
Q: Do you could have a specific model of puzzle that you just get pleasure from creating probably the most?
A: I like making laborious themeless (or freestyle, as they’re typically known as) crosswords. The emphasis being on the clues moderately than the theme makes it really feel nearly akin to inventive writing.
Q: What a couple of favourite clue you’ve written, whether or not on this puzzle or a unique one?
A: I like getting to make use of a clue to share one thing that I discover humorous or pleasant, like this puzzle’s clues for OGDEN [Nash who wrote “Parsley / Is gharsley”] and EGGO [Brand that makes Brunch in a Jar Sippin’ Cream liqueur]. My favourite clue I’ve ever written might be this difficult, punny one for POPEMOBILE: [See one’s way out?]
Q: Final week, Rebecca Goldstein talked about that you just have been co-directors of the Westwords crossword match within the Bay Space. How are you having fun with that technique of planning a puzzle match?
A: Sure! The inaugural Westwords will probably be held in Berkeley, Calif., on June 23. As somebody who has by no means been capable of attend a crossword match in individual, as a result of they’re largely on the East Coast and time-consuming/costly to journey to, I’m vastly enthusiastic about serving to to create an occasion for West Coasters (and others; it’ll be held nearly as effectively). Current and up to date tournaments, each in-person and digital, are incredible fashions for us to be impressed by, and it’s so enjoyable to think about how we will carve out a distinct segment for ourselves. For instance, Westwords will probably be distinctive in having themed and themeless puzzles which might be each provided at quite a lot of problem ranges.
Q: Another puzzle tasks you need to speak about?
A: I used to be just lately concerned in making a puzzle zine for folks incarcerated in New York prisons and jails, a challenge run by the Brooklyn Public Library. It’s extremely laborious for incarcerated folks to entry books of all kinds, which is a travesty, and it was wonderful to contribute to a challenge serving that inhabitants. The zine will not be broadly obtainable, however it’s potential to ship puzzle books (and different books) to folks in jail by means of nonprofits focusing on this, and as we head into the vacation season, I’d encourage anybody studying this to think about doing so. Take a look at the Jail E book Program for a listing of nonprofits throughout america.