Working: How to Make a “Fair” Crossword Puzzle

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3.9 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 3 March 2024

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, host June Thomas talks to Anna Shechtman, a crossword puzzle creator whose new book is called The Riddles of the Sphinx: Inheriting the Feminist History of the Crossword Puzzle. In the interview, Anna talks about her experience writing crossword puzzles as a teenager and then going on to work with New York Times puzzle maker Will Shortz. She also discusses the subjectivity of “common knowledge” and recalls debates with Shortz about which words and phrases were puzzle-worthy. After the interview, June and co-host Ronald Young Jr. talk more about crosswords and the ever-expanding pool of “common knowledge.” In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Anna shares how much crossword puzzle creators get paid. She also discusses a more sensitive topic: her struggle with anorexia, which coincided with her early interest in crossword puzzles. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	As I've created more and more crosswords, I'm often left to wonder sort of why people are remain
0:16.6	interested in solving crossword puzzles.
0:19.4	For some, they just want to solve it as quickly as possible, but I basically think people write and solve crossword puzzles to waste time not to beat it.
0:30.0	Welcome back to Working. I'm your host Ronald Young Jr.
0:33.4	And I'm your other host June Thomas.
0:36.0	June Thomas! We are together yet again.
0:39.4	Yet again.
0:40.3	Tell me, who is that voice we just heard at the top of the episode?
0:44.0	That was Anna Sheckman who is a crossword compiler of some renown.
0:49.0	Crossword compiler. I don't think I've ever heard that title before. What made you want to talk to Anna Sheckman right now?
0:55.6	Well, Anna has a boot coming out on March 5th. It's called The Riddles of the Sphinx,
1:00.9	and it's about a whole bunch of things including the now mostly forgotten
1:05.6	feminist history of the crossword puzzle especially in America. It's also about
1:10.2	Anna's experience compiling crosswords while in high school and working as New York Times
1:15.6	puzzle master Will Short's assistant right out of college as well as her attempts to, I don't know exactly if Solve is the right word, but figure out a personal
1:25.4	mystery which is her experience with anorexia.
1:28.4	So there's a lot going on in the book, but it's wonderful, it's fascinating, and I really
1:32.1	wanted to chat with her about it.
1:34.0	That is incredible. It sounds like this book has it all.
1:38.0	Yes.
1:39.0	But I'll bet this interview doesn't quite have it all.
1:42.0	I bet there's a little more for our Slate Plus members.
	...

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