Puzzle Creator
Back to Daily CrosticsHow the creator works
First, enter your puzzle title. The title can include your byline if you wish; if you use the Share button for your finished Acrostic, this is the title that will be publicly viewable.
After you have titled your creation, enter the quotation your player will work to reveal. The main quotation box is where you type or paste the text. Underneath, the creator repeats the quotation as a live letter tracker, so you can see which letters still remain as clue answers are formed.
Next, enter your key phrase. Often this is an author/title combination, but it can be anything relevant to the quotation and useful to solvers. A key phrase is only valid if all of its letters are actually available in the quotation.
Each key phrase letter becomes the first letter of a clue answer, and those letters are automatically counted against the quotation. The original applet-based PuzzleMaker worked backward from the quotation: as clue answers were formed, it tracked which quotation letters were already used. This version does the same; the repeated quotation display grays out letters that have already been accounted for.
The last step is the most difficult: coming up with clues and answers. We usually like to form answer words first, then circle back and write clues later. You can build answers manually with the dictionary helper buttons, Suggest Words and Exact Fit Words, or try Attempt Answer Autofill and let the creator attempt to create a viable set of clue answer words automatically. If you use Autofill, a progress dialog will report what the tool is trying, and you can cancel at any time.
A note about Autofill: pay attention to the average answer length implied by your quotation length and key phrase length. The average dictionary word is between 5 and 6 letters, so Autofill success can vary depending on how your required average compares, and on the available letter pool in your chosen quotation. Sometimes Autofill succeeds quickly; other attempts may take much longer. There is no hard time limit, so you can leave it running as long as you wish.
Good luck, and don't forget to hit that green Share button when you are finished!
