Diagramless Crosswords: A Tutorial
Take note of the size of the puzzle, and create a blank grid for solving. This diagramless is "17x17" (17 squares across and 17 squares down.)
A print-friendly version is included for those wanting to solve this puzzle in the traditonal manner.
First, determine the starting square (the square in which 1-Across begins). To determine the length of the answer to 1-Across, simply look at the number of the second Across clue, and subtract 1 from it. So, if the second Across clue is numbered "6," then the answer to 1-Across is 5 letters long.
Put the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 into the upper left corners of the first four answer squares in the grid (just as they would appear in a regular crossword). Then write in the answer to 1-Across. Now you have the starting letters for 1-Down, 2-Down, 3-Down, 4-Down and 5-Down.
Remember to place a black square at the beginning and end of each answer as you enter them (unless the entry starts or finishes at the outer edge of the grid).
If the first two Across answers haven't taken up the entire top row of the grid, then you can determine the length of the second Across answer by subtracting its number from the number of the third Across answer. Therefore, if the second and third Across clues are numbered "6" and "12," then the answer to 6-Across is 6 letters long. (Don't forget to put black squares at either end of 6-Across)
Keep in mind that American crosswords have point symmetry (around the center square), which is to say that the pattern of black and white squares in the puzzle look the same if the grid is turned upside down.
Therefore, when you have a few of the black squares plotted in the upper left section of the grid, you can place black squares in the corresponding positions of the lower right portion of the grid.
For instance, if you have figured out that the square which is 5 squares across and 4 squares down from the upper left corner is a black one, then the square which is 5 squares back and 4 squares up from the lower right corner is also black.
Finally, you should be aware that most American crosswords do not allow 1-letter or 2-letter entries. If you fill in a black square that leaves only 1 or 2 white squares between it and the edge of the grid (or another black square), you can blacken those intervening squares, as well.
I hope these guidelines will help you to discover the fun of solving diagramless puzzles. Keep at it!
Now here's the puzzle to get you started. Use a blank grid like the one above (17x17)
Print-friendly version
| ACROSS 1. Transferable design 6. "____ Lot" (Stephen King novel) 12. Tease 16. Sky blue 17. Czech Republic capital 18. "Do ____ others..." 19. Start of a husband's greeting 21. He ad-libs fibs 22. Angeles or Alamos leader 23. Clinton's '92 and '96 opponent 24. Descendants 26. Social outcast 29. Convenient 30. Carrere of "Wayne's World" 33. Clair or Coty 34. Pythias' pal 36. Middle of the husband's greeting 39. ____-relief 42. Hale's role on "Perry Mason" 43. Swarm with activity 44. Carbonated cooler 45. Simoleons 46. Walks wearily 48. America's first saint 49. Indigo dye 50. Informal complaint 51. Direction for Christian Soldiers? 52. Butterfly collector's tool 53. End of the husband's greeting 56. Rice, to Ramon 57. Gore's title, in headlines 58. Affirmative vote 59. Bring to Broadway 62. Supporters of art? 64. Rental for the prom, perhaps 66. Like an autumn breeze 68. Amassed wagers 71. Ruler of Valhalla 72. Overworked housewife's reply 76. Type of golf club 77. Washington's Pennsylvania, e.g. 78. Ms. Rogers St. John 79. Humorist Bombeck 80. Proceeds toward evening 81. Lecherous deity |
DOWN 1. "The Witches" author Roald 2. Basso Pinza 3. Bovines chew them 4. Exist collectively 5. Bound 6. "S" or "F", phonetically 7. Wearing mail 8. Christine of filmdom 9. Freudian concept 10. It's "the word," at times 11. Takes in 12. One of John Lennon's boys 13. Burger topper 14. Tolerate 15. Interested in equines 20. Say again 25. ____ En-lai 27. Found the sum 28. Garfield's predecessor 30. Explorer Abel 31. Chant 32. Skilled with one's hands 33. Sitcom star Perlman 35. Popular tattoo honoree 37. Artesian or wishing 38. "Knock ____!" ("That's enough!") 39. Luther Burbank's science 40. Silent star Renee 41. Justice O'Connor 44. Fastened with stitches 46. Black or orange tea 47. Talk show host Gibbons 48. Quick cut 50. Limbo dancing need 51. Ukraine or Texas city 53. TV's talkative trotter 54. Surplus printing 55. Experiences a second time 56. Meeting docket 59. Uncle Tom's creator 60. Henry VIII's dynasty 61. Self-evident statement 63. Part of an act 65. Televangelist Roberts 67. Elem. school orgs. 68. Meter man? 69. Having no siblings 70. Russian ruler of old 73. Zsa Zsa's sister 74. Sink below the horizon 75. Actress/director Lupino |
