Puzzle #17: Themeless #9

Posted in themeless crosswordsLeave a comment

It’s been only five days, puzzle people! I hope you’re not too full on themeless crossword fun!

One of things that I value about the wider awakening surrounding Black Lives Matter is that oppressed people are speaking out for themselves and allies are starting to listen. That’s why I absolutely had to get 4-Across into a grid today. I’ve been a fan of hers for a long time, and I’m deeply moved and inspired by her brave and eloquent actions in the past couple of weeks. The other themeless that was supposed to drop this week will make its way to you eventually, and hopefully it’s a nice challenge as well.

Again, crosswords are a sustaining break for all of us, but I hope you’ll join me in continuing the work we’re doing as humans to ensure that this moment of awareness and potential change doesn’t flare out.

Back next week with a playful themed puzzle!

.puz

.pdf

.pdf SOLUTION

Bonus Themeless w/ Brooke Husic

Posted in themeless crosswords1 Comment
Photo credit: Wittylama

Hello puzzle people!


I hope your weekend is going well so far. I’m absolutely thrilled to offer you a bonus puzzle this fine evening. It’s a collaboration with star constructor Brooke Husic!


I first solved Brooke’s work in USA Today, where I was struck by her inventive cluing and finely wrought grids. Many of you, and I as well, have enjoyed her individual voice in guest spots on other puzzle blogs. Constructing with her was highly educational, and a real treat!

—

From Brooke:

Steve and I started talking after I was super impressed by his Universal puzzle a month ago. Now that we’ve collaborated, I’m 10x as impressed with how deliberate and thoughtful Steve is around every aspect of gridding, cluing, and inclusivity/framing, and I’ve learned so much from working with him. It’s an honor to be featured here and I’m excited for future puzzles from this shared byline!

—

Be safe, have fun, and enjoy our themeless collaboration! Back with a regular offering on Wednesday!

.puz

.pdf

.pdf SOLUTION

Puzzle #16: “Wait For the Drop”

Posted in themed crosswordsLeave a comment

Hello again, puzzle people!

It’s themed week at Square Pursuit. Since we crossworders have such big brains, I think its useful for us to enrich and deploy them in this time of increased awareness and potential change. May this puzzle be a good, nerdy break from all the sharing, listening, learning and supporting that I hope you, along with the rest of us, are doing right now.

After the drop, I hope you’ll consider looking at the work that Erik and Paolo have already begun if you are in a position to do so and haven’t already. Puzzle solvers and creators have a lot to offer the world, right?

On a far less critical note, I’ve had some kind requests from folks looking for ways to follow my puzzles as they come out. As a non-tech savvy constructor, it took some figuring, but I think the e-mail subscription field to the left should do the trick. Please let me know if it doesn’t.

Thanks for solving! Back with a fresh themeless grid next week.

.puz

.pdf

.pdf SOLUTION

Puzzle #15: Themeless #8

Posted in themeless crosswordsLeave a comment

Hello, dear solvers! For me, and you perhaps, puzzles are an important escape from the world. Please permit me a brief aside about humanism and crosswords today.

Because I believe silence is complicity, I feel compelled to express my outrage over the murder of George Floyd and the violent crackdown on peaceful protestors and journalists in its wake. As a crossword person, I’d like to amplify a couple of voices in our community right now.

Two of our brightest stars in crossworld are using their art to support organizations in the Black Lives Matter movement. Erik Agard is offering some of his great puzzles with your donation to a 1StruggleKC. Paolo Pasco is offering a typically excellent creation of his own as well as some puzzles from other constructors (including myself) with a donation. His website also links to some informational resources which I encourage you to explore if you’re sufficiently fired up and curious.

Thanks for hearing me out! Be learned, stay safe and enjoy! Back with a themed offering next week!

.puz

.pdf

.pdf SOLUTION

Puzzle #14: “The Mini”

Posted in themed crosswordsLeave a comment

Greetings, crosspeople! It’s time for another full-sized themed puzzle.

What a great time to be solving crosswords! I feel surrounded on all sides by excellent constructors of small grids, from indie makers like Amanda Rafkin and Matthew Stock, to respected crafters like Matt Gaffney and Elizabeth Gorski, who have both started publishing little puzzles in major outlets. Is the age of the mini?

Well, some day you’ll get an actual mini from this guy, but for now you’ll have to settle for a corny puzzle tribute to the talented people that keep us entertained in tiny little bites.

Take care, enjoy, and I’ll see you next week with another themeless offering!

.puz

.pdf

.pdf SOLUTION

Puzzle #13: Themeless #7

Posted in themeless crosswordsLeave a comment
Photo Credit: NightRider63

Hello hello hello, puzzle people!

I’m so happy to be able to throw a new themeless onto the pile of amazing puzzles people have been making these past couple of weeks. We’ve just been swimming in excellent crosswords and I’ve been talking with all sorts of cool nerdy people and learning a ton. It gets me charged up to put new grids together, and then I get the extra pleasure of having you solve them.

Stay safe and enjoy! Back next week with a themed offering.

.puz

.pdf

.pdf SOLUTION

Puzzle 12: “Power Up!”

Posted in themed crosswords1 Comment

Hello, crossword people!

This week’s creation marks a couple of firsts for me as a constructor. For one, it’s the first time I’ve ever been able to have someone test solve the puzzle before it saw the light of day. I picked really well: Christopher Adams at arctan(x)words is not only a fantastic constructor (yes please go over there and solve his excellent weekly puzzles), but also a really sensitive and thoughtful examiner of the process. He wrote me generous and detailed insights about my work and how to make it more accessible and smoother for all solvers. It’s a whole lot better because of him. Thanks, Chris!

And as for the rest of you, here’s hoping you’re getting by OK out there in puzzle land. Please enjoy the offering. Back with a fresh themeless next Wednesday!

.puz

.pdf

.pdf SOLUTION

Puzzle #11: Themeless #6

Posted in themeless crosswordsLeave a comment

Hey there, puzzle people!

I’m still out watching the birds every day, and all of a sudden it seems like spring has sprung. The cold rains of April have blown away and in their wake come blossoms, bugs, and warm weather. It sounds like it’s time for some cooling refreshment.

It’s themeless week at Square Pursuit, and I can assure you that this puzzle supplies absolutely no cooling refreshment, but I hope it brings some challenging entertainment. Try a scoop!

Back next week a themed puzzle that’s a bit different. Take care, stay safe, and enjoy!

.puz

.pdf

.pdf SOLUTION

Puzzle #10: “Migrating Birds”

Posted in themed crosswords2 Comments
Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca). Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. – MDF

Hello, bird puzzle fans!

It’s that time again. Every spring, I strap on the binoculars with a whole bunch of other birders, and we go out for a few weeks to watch the migrating songbirds come through. This year, I’ve got to go it alone, but that’s pretty easy to do when you’ve got lots of woods around, as I’m lucky to have. It’s amazing to go from a possible 10-20 bird species on your trail walk to over 100 and then back down again in such a short period of time. What a wonderful way to take notice of our planet.

Some disclaimers about this crossword:

  • You do not need to know anything about birding to solve this puzzle. I didn’t put anything like “Red-eyed vireo” in the grid.
  • If you’re a birder, you won’t find much scientific accuracy here. It’s hard to make a pun or linguistic twist out of “Prothonotary warbler.”
  • The difficulty level is, hopefully, a bit gentler than it’s been lately. My intention is to challenge people, not to hurt them! A major reason for doing this blog is to learn how to make my puzzles better and more fun. Everyone has been phenomenally kind in their feedback, but it’s apparent I’ve been a little rough on solvers these past couple of weeks.

And with that, enjoy, keep in touch, and I’ll see you next Wednesday with another tricky themeless!

.puz

.pdf

.pdf solution

Puzzle #9: Themeless #5

Posted in themeless crosswordsLeave a comment
Luigi Anzivino - https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilmungo/74897638

Bon appétit, puzzle people!

It’s pasta night err… themeless week again, and this time, I decided to step up to a personal layout challenge. There are all kinds of cool ideas popping up on crossword blogs these days and I’m feeling inspired. I feel lucky and incredibly thankful to be able to solve and create and learn from others right now. Here’s hoping the puzzle looks pretty and stumps you just the right amount!

May all your pasta nights be delicious. Back with a seasonally-themed puzzle next week!

.puz

.pdf

.pdf SOLUTION