http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2009/07/23/slow-crosswording/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:46:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2009/07/23/slow-crosswording/comment-page-1/#comment-133578 Thom Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:52:46 +0000 http://www.tinmanic.com/?p=3840#comment-133578 In my personal crossword solving, I place a little emphasis on speed, but I have one idiosyncratic challenge that takes precedence over speed: I can't just move around the grid willy-nilly, but each clue I solve after the first must have at least one square in common with one already solved. I mentally mark down my performance if I end up stuck and have to move to a completely blank clue. Not sure why I started that little OCD with my puzzles, but as far back as I can remember even into childhood I've required myself to try to solve them that way, and always in pen. In my personal crossword solving, I place a little emphasis on speed, but I have one idiosyncratic challenge that takes precedence over speed: I can’t just move around the grid willy-nilly, but each clue I solve after the first must have at least one square in common with one already solved. I mentally mark down my performance if I end up stuck and have to move to a completely blank clue. Not sure why I started that little OCD with my puzzles, but as far back as I can remember even into childhood I’ve required myself to try to solve them that way, and always in pen.

]]> http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2009/07/23/slow-crosswording/comment-page-1/#comment-133574 Daniel Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:23:19 +0000 http://www.tinmanic.com/?p=3840#comment-133574 I agree. The emphasis on speed completely takes away from what I consider the true fun of a puzzle, that moment when something just "clicks" and everything seems to fall into place. That should be savored. I don't feel that, however, until at the very least Thursday, and some weeks I just don't even bother with the earlier puzzles. Is it weird that one of the reasons I look forward to the weekend are the challenging crossword puzzles? :) I agree. The emphasis on speed completely takes away from what I consider the true fun of a puzzle, that moment when something just “clicks” and everything seems to fall into place. That should be savored.
I don’t feel that, however, until at the very least Thursday, and some weeks I just don’t even bother with the earlier puzzles. Is it weird that one of the reasons I look forward to the weekend are the challenging crossword puzzles? :)

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