THEMELESS MONDAY: [ ACROSS LITE][ PDF]
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New themeless puzzle for you today. Hope you enjoy it. In the meantime, though, let’s take a stroll back and look at some themed puzzles I made this year, shall we? Yes let’s.
Probably my favorite puzzle that I made this past year was this one. The punchline still slays me. Would that every puzzle I make land like this. I should have retired right after it ran. Nah, who am I kidding? I’m a lifer
I don’t know where I come up with themes, but here’s one of the more random takes on a standard concept. This one used the same idea, but the extra constraint I added to it tipped it into the noteworthy category.
Letter banks are always fun, and I think I’m good for one whole puzzle built around that idea. Here is this year’s model. And then there’s the consonancy gimmick, done with this puzzle. Nice punch line on that on, in my humble opinion.
As for simple, straightforward yet effective themes, I believe that this one came out the strongest.
Fans of pun puzzles should reconsider the following. This one that I think mostly worked. The first and third ones in this one still made me smile months later. An then there’s this one, which maybe wasn’t the world-beater I’d hoped for, but it did mark the first time Tabitha gave me a showstopping theme answer.
Speaking of Tabitha, I love it when she inspires me to make puzzles. Here’s one.
Wrapping this exercise up: add a few letters puzzles are in many ways a bread and butter puzzle type by the Biz Quig. This one I thought was particularly nice. This one was simple but effective. The first entry in this one made me laugh upon revisiting these puzzles. And finally, here’s all the proof you need that I can make a puzzle about anything.
Big huge thanks to everybody who has chipped in to the end of the year drive. Here’s the drill: the puzzles on this site are free and shall remain free until the heat death of the universe. My whole life is dedicated to the entertainment of you, you, and you. All I ask if that you are financially able, please consider a small tip of $15 to keep the site chugging along. Everyone who tips gets two bonus 21xs, a themed and a themeless, as a thank you. PayPal or Venmo (@TheBEQ) preferred. But I take everything, including crypto, just email me Long for appeal is here.
Also, let me know if you have tipped but haven’t got your puzzles yet.
Still looking for more puzzles? The Hub Crossword (Sunday puzzles by me and Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon) and Marching Bands year seven have begun. So if that To Do list needs even more puzzles, you know what to do.
Share the puzzle. New one on Thursday.
That is so sad if you thought that first puzzle you recommended above was so funny.
It was brilliant! You might want to find a more boring constructor.
Hey Brendan. Thanks for your annual recap. And thanks for another great year of puzzles that carry your unique trademark – often quite challenging but always entertaining.
You and Byron Walden…none better!