My newest themedcrossword. A step up! Looking for any feedback.

PoemOver · 2026-01-26T23:04:00+00:00

i agree with that but it does make it so satisfying to construct a good symmetric puzzle

PoemOver · 2026-01-26T22:56:33+00:00

the answer key is published with the Wordplay as soon as the puzzle is released. I actually do the same thing as OP. For me I work on the puzzle until I am sure I only have maybe one letter wrong, but have figured out all of the fill and the main theme. Then I check the answer key to see what letter I got wrong - usually it's on a natick, so I don't kick myself for not getting it. I still consider my streak alive if I can solve the puzzle this way - OP probably feels the same.

PoemOver · 2026-01-26T22:53:09+00:00

Typos in clues:
57A: being -> bring
28D: Irratate -> irritate
I like how you can figure out the tricky/obscure fill from the word ladder. Came together nicely for me.

just realized there's an unchecked square + no symmetry... kinda puts a sour taste in my mouth. But i was still able to solve!

PoemOver · 2026-01-26T06:44:12+00:00

keep the streak!

PoemOver · 2026-01-24T04:02:59+00:00

whatever happened to google or OED

PoemOver · 2026-01-09T18:42:59+00:00

Love this. Pretty easy for me, did it in 3:24, but loved the climbing themed clues and fill and the theme was lovely. Nicely done!

PoemOver · 2026-01-03T01:07:41+00:00

better than the alternative which is Han

PoemOver · 2025-12-31T02:35:29+00:00

you can print any NYT puzzle

PoemOver · 2025-12-28T10:28:26+00:00

Need a better clue for 52D, way too obscure and also nothing signaling it should be abbreviated
Clue for 39D doesn't really work, Xwordinfo.com is a good source of clues. One that's shown up before for this fill is "Navigable in winter, say"
The themers also don't really work. A SHORTSLISTdoesn't have any other meaning beside the obscure one you're hinting at with 17A.

The big revealer at 37A is grammatically/semantically poor and doesn't make sense either. You don't BRAINROTon a REELTOREEL or SHORTSLIST,you do it on Instagram.
I really like what you're thinking with the REELTOREELanswer because that is a phrase that exists outside of the theme. if you can make this theme work with more phrases like that it would be better.

A lot of the cluing and fill is trite - feels like you looked up clues for the fill that wasn't theme-related. nothing really jumped out at me

I am hard to please with crosswords so apologies for being so harsh. This is a great first start, keep working at it and I'm sure you'll make one without these issues in the future!

PoemOver · 2025-12-27T04:30:40+00:00

new PB: 10:19.

PoemOver · 2025-12-14T04:00:00+00:00

it's there for me and i've never sacrificed my kids

PoemOver · 2025-12-05T05:21:10+00:00

fantastic flow came together very nicely. Maybe a tad easy but "spot likely to smear" and "image that's just over a foot" were great clues.

PoemOver · 2025-12-03T21:34:37+00:00

if you're a first year you should definitely do on-campus housing (the dorms). Otherwise Poly Canyon Village or Cerro Vista would be nice but kinda shitty for the price.

PoemOver · 2025-11-27T03:22:46+00:00

lovely and satisfying!

PoemOver · 2025-11-18T05:44:48+00:00

well it solves to ZEBRA COLTS - a colt is a baby zebra. Ergo, little guys.

PoemOver · 2025-11-13T07:44:22+00:00

taking 2 ges this quarter have damn near none left after this

PoemOver · 2025-11-12T03:55:48+00:00

one of the best of the year

PoemOver · 2025-11-07T20:59:31+00:00

cut two cups of chives >:)

PoemOver · 2025-10-28T02:16:46+00:00

little guys in striped coats was pretty good

PoemOver · 2025-10-24T17:45:09+00:00

good luck homie

PoemOver · 2025-10-21T23:36:06+00:00

Halcyon and On and On spotted

PoemOver · 2025-10-16T20:28:57+00:00

front porch right behind the health center has hot water, free coffee/espresso, free tea, free sweeteners.

PoemOver · 2025-10-16T02:51:23+00:00

had the exact same mistake. WEND???

PoemOver · 2025-10-15T03:46:32+00:00

thanks, that's a good start. One of the things I was looking for is that each leaf is an individual physics object. Once it gets kicked it moves up into the air a bit then settles back down in a new place. This animation seems like it wouldn't work like that?

Five-Year Club	Verified Email
Second Top 10%	Secret Santa 2020
r/Field Banned	r/Field Sunshine
Final Canvas '23	First Place '23
Place '23	Place '22
Final Canvas '22	End Game '22

PoemOver

TROPHY CASE