will shortz interview presentation
TRANSCRIPT
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WILL SHORTZ New York Times Crossword Editor
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Who is Will Shortz? • Holds the world’s only degree in
Enigmatology, the study of puzzles • Was Editor of Games Magazine for 15
years • Founded the American Crossword Puzzle
Tournament in 1978 • Has had a Sunday morning segment on
NaPonal Public Radio since 1987 • Founded the World Puzzle Championship
in 1992 • Became New York Times Crossword
Editor on November 21, 1993
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Wow, he’s done a lot in his career… what does he do from day to day? • He is responsible for a quality crossword every day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year
• He personally looks at ALL puzzle submissions • He corresponds with constructors on their puzzles and other crossword-‐related topics
• Works with interns, test solvers, distributors, etc. to get the puzzle where it needs to go
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Anna Shechtman Frank Longo Paula Gamache
Joel Fagliano Ellen Ripstein Deb Amlen
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How has technology impacted the Times crossword puzzle?
• Shortz no longer has “a huge advantage” • EliminaPng obscuriPes and wriPng be_er
clues has become a lot easier • Blogs and bloggers play a role
• Electronic media also supplement the profit for the New York Times Company
• SPll, the majority of solvers solve on paper
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April 4, 2013 by Corey Rubin
January 17, 2013 by Milo Beckman
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Could one make a living off of this? • Not easily; only about 6 people in America make their living as puzzle makers
• Will says two things: – #1 – Learn your craj, whatever it is, and learn to do it well
– #2 – Make connecPons in the business
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What advice does he have for YOU?
• Start creaPng crosswords! • Or take a crossword from a
newspaper and try filling it by hand • Visit Cruciverb.com and read what
the experts have to say • Go to puzzle events, naPonal or local
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Further Reading (and Solving): Crossword Puzzle Challenges for Dummies, by Patrick Berry
Cruciverb, crossword resource center: h_p://www.cruciverb.com/index.php XWord Info, NY Times crosswords since 1980: h_p://www.xwordinfo.com/
American Crossword Puzzle Tournament: h_p://www.crosswordtournament.com/
Ma_ Gaffney’s Weekly Crossword Contest: h_p://xwordcontest.com/ Puzzles by George Barany and friends:
h_p://www.chem.umn.edu/groups/baranygp/puzzles/ 20 Under 30, puzzles from young constructors:
h_p://twentyunderthirty.com/ Crossword Compiler, construcPng sojware:
h_p://www.crossword-‐compiler.com/ Across Lite, solving sojware:
h_p://www.litsoj.com/across/alite/download/