About

About the Blog

Thank you for checking out Grid Alchemy! This crossword-construction blog was created with just one goal in mind: Total Cruciverbalism Domination!

Kidding. My aspirations are a tad less lofty: looking at the crosswords we love to solve––whether they’re from the NYT, the LA Times, or our favorite indie creator––and trying to figure out what allows them to succeed. Most importantly, what can these puzzles teach us as we embark on our own constructions?

So I want to examine both how and why constructors make decisions about their puzzles. Are there advantages to particular theme answers, and are there drawbacks to certain grid layouts? To be clear: I don’t think that I’ll discover any sort of miracle crossword-creating “Philosopher’s Stone.” But at the very least, I hope we can achieve a deeper understanding of our favorite puzzles, and what makes them tick.

Enjoy!

– Henry

About the Blogger

Henry Lin-David is a writer & editor from Wesleyan University who simply will not shut up about crosswords. He writes journalism and creative nonsense.

Selected crosswords (asterisk indicates puzzle is available online and free-to-play):
Universal Crossword: “Alchemy” on Wednesday, December 21, 2021 by Henry Lin-David
Los Angeles Times: Tuesday, December 28, 2021 by Henry Lin-David
*Spyscape: “Holes” on December 10, 2022 by Henry Lin-David
Los Angeles Times: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 by Kate Luo & Henry Lin-David
New York Times: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 by Henry Lin-David
Puzzmo: “If the shoe fits…” on Friday, April 11, 2025 by Henry Lin-David
*Puzzmo: “Getting Amped” on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 by Henry Lin-David
Puzzmo: “Tank Tops” on Monday, July 28, 2025 by Henry Lin-David
Puzzmo: “Food Chain” on Friday, October 10, 2025 by Henry Lin-David
Puzzmo: “We’re having a wild time!” on Saturday, November 22, 2025 by Henry Lin-David