Crosswords are a dying art. While all the major papers still carry them, few of my peers solve crossword puzzles as a regular activity. There are some word puzzle enthusiasts at schools like Georgetown, but the truth is, this classic time-waster simply doesn’t get the kind of attention it used to, thanks to the vast catalog of computer and video games we can procrastinate with instead. It’s just not cool anymore. As someone who has spent extensive time in the company of her grandmother, I can tell you that crosswords are for old people. So when I had a chance last spring to help make the case for crosswords at Georgetown, I took it. I now write crosswords for the Voice.
From a crossword puzzle, I learned that the technical term for a someone who crafts crosswords is a “cruciverbalist,” a term that comes from the Latin words for “cross” and “word.” (For obvious reasons, I don’t use this word when I try to explain exactly what I’m doing on my Macbook all afternoon.) This fun fact about myself makes a distinct impression on most people. And I can’t blame them—I was baffled as well when I first heard that the Voice was looking for crossword editors. Like a good English major, I wasted far too much time in high school solving crosswords. I knew the puzzles had to come from someone, but I never thought that I could make them.
To be honest, it isn’t that tricky. The solution comes first, in a 15-by-15 grid. Most puzzles are constructed around a theme, so the black squares on the grid are arranged around the theme words. From there, it’s an elaborate game of guess-and-check to place intersecting words in the grid so that each line—across and down—is a real word in the English (or occasionally, another) language. The clues for the words are written last.
The Voice crosswords have been written by students for years, and my predecessors handed a lot of tips down to me to help me create them. Though less challenging than solving a crossword, it is still lengthy and difficult. However, the process is ultimately rewarding. Studies have shown that solving crosswords keeps the brain agile and may even delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. There haven’t been studies on the effects of creating crosswords, but there are obvious benefits. Writing crosswords has helped me learn many new Latin phrases, random words, and fun facts (youngest NASCAR winner, anyone?). The process has also made valuable improvements to my work ethic. Writing or solving crossword puzzles presents a chance to work individually on a project, sort through frustrations and time constraints, and develop the patience and level-headedness needed to deal with these setbacks—skills that have improved my focus and patience with difficult school assignments and other work.
Creating crosswords also provides me with ample opportunity to express my nerdy creativity. The themes I choose are my way of making crosswords relevant to Georgetown students. They frequently reference Georgetown activities, the college lifestyle, or popular music (like this week’s puzzle).
If making crosswords sounds like your dream job, cruciverbialism and using large Latin phrases that annoy your friends could be in your future too. And for those of you who view crossword puzzles as a boring, old-fashioned hobby, it may be time for you to rethink your prejudices and give this “retro” pastime a try. Besides, there is no better way to dust off some old vocabulary and pass an hour or two while keeping your brain engaged.
So the next time you have some free time on a weekday afternoon, quit Facebooking and give a crossword puzzle (preferably mine) a chance.
