BWS Puzzle 5: Midi Themeless #1

Yes, two new puzzles today!

I've been feeling inspired to try making more themeless puzzles because of some recent experiences: 1) participating in the #BOSWORDS Spring Themeless League (just Choppy clues for me!) and 2) watching a Twitch stream of people collaboratively writing clues for a themeless puzzle. Both of those have completely blown my mind this week. (Before starting Boswords two weeks ago, I didn't even know what Twitch was! 🤷‍♂️)

I'm working on some 15x15 themeless puzzles, but none of them are quite ready to share, so I thought I'd start with a smaller grid. I took one of the 10x10 grids I used often in my book of "Mini Math Crosswords" [*] with two length-10 themers, and I just cut out one pair of black squares, so now there are two stacks of two parallel 10s with another pair of 10s running perpendicular to both of those stacks. My plan is to use this grid (and other variations) to practice making good, snappy fill and writing tough clues.

[* I now know that "mini" means more like 5x5 or 7x7, and "midi" is used for 10x10ish. I honestly didn't know that until after making the book!]

Enjoy the solve, and share if you do! Constructive feedback in the comments is always welcome.

Download links: [puz] [pdf] [solution]

Comments

Puzzle 93: Choice Words

I felt inspired to construct over the last few days for the first time in a while and ended up with this wide midi puzzle that's lightly themed and probably not too challenging. I hoped to post this yesterday, Tuesday, but didn't quite finish in time. Enjoy the solve, and share if you do! puz pdf solve fullscreen solution

Puzzle 92: Take a Break

Just a quick break from themelesses for this silly little puzzle, inspired by a phrase that came up in conversation. Warning: one theme entry has some vulgar language; not recommended for kids. Enjoy the solve, and share if you do! puz pdf fullscreen solution

BWS Puzzle 32: Midi Themeless #14

Another midi-sized themeless puzzle with diagonal symmetry! This one is 11x11, and it all started with the diagonally crossing entries 38-Across and 9-Down. As I filled in the rest of the grid, I noticed a few chances to include some other entries that "fit" with those two seed entries (hah, seed! ), so that's why I have somewhat contradictorily labeled this post with both the "themeless" and "mini themes" categories. Still, it's decidedly not a "themed puzzle", and I'm just pointing this out in case you notice the miniature theme and it helps you solve a clue or two. I acknowledge there's an abundance of proper names in this puzzle, so that's why I'm labeling this Extra Hard , even though the rest of the clues are probably more medium-to-hard . I'm sorry if some of those names get in the way of your solving, but please always feel free to use that Reveal button liberally! In fact, just the other day I inadvert...

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