Thank you, New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz, thank you!
Q. I enjoyed the film “Wordplay,” but was a little put off by the emphasis on speed in solving the puzzle. I guess that has to be the criteria when one has a competition. Still, for me the pleasure in crosswords is in the solving, not in some stressed-out rush to fill in the puzzle as quickly as possible. When you complete a puzzle, are you always trying to do it as quickly as possible?
[Will Shortz responds:] Rushing to solve a crossword is like stuffing a fine four-course meal down your throat as fast as you can. It doesn’t make much sense. In a tournament, of course, the way to differentiate the best solvers from the rest is by their speed. In everyday solving, though, take all the sweet time you want.
I speed through Mondays and usually Tuesdays. I go more slowly the rest of the week, even though I could go faster if I really wanted. I never time myself, though. Doing crosswords isn’t about speed — it’s about enjoying yourself.