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Random House Puzzlemaker's Handbook (RH Crosswords)
 
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Random House Puzzlemaker's Handbook (RH Crosswords) [Paperback]

Mel Rosen (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)


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Book Description

RH Crosswords September 5, 1995
If you've always wondered how crosswords and other word puzzles are made, or you've thought of trying your hand at it yourself, this book explains the craft step-by-step: how to put words and black squares together, write clues, and market the finished product. There's little to compare with the thrill of entertaining millions of people -- and getting paid in the bargain!

If you're new to puzzle solving, you'll find many helpful tips to get you started or improve your skills. If you regularly solve the crosswords in your newspaper but are mystified by diagramless puzzles, acrostic puzzles, or cryptic crosswords, this book will help you tackle these challenging and entertaining variations.

An introduction by the New York Times crossword editor, Will Shortz, and a fascinating history of word puzzles and luminaries round out the Random House Puzzlemaker's Handbook, making it the complete cruciverbalist's reference -- the only book of its kind.


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

You've solved your share of crossword puzzles, now you feel ready to create your own. Or maybe you just wonder how the heck it's done. Mel Rosen and Stan Kurzban take you behind the squares. You'll learn how to develop all kinds of crosswords, including the thematic, cryptic, pun, and anagram varieties. And also how to sell what you create. The authors clearly enjoy their work. They well communicate the joy of creating both smart clues and polished puzzles. Included with the exercises, examples, and explanations are several useful charts and tips on solving puzzles as well as creating them.

Product Details

  • Paperback
  • Publisher: Random House Puzzles & Games; 1 edition (September 5, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0812925440
  • ISBN-13: 978-0812925449
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,062,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book on Constructing, September 7, 2005
This review is from: Random House Puzzlemaker's Handbook (RH Crosswords) (Paperback)
It is possible to learn to construct crossword puzzles without The Random House Puzzlemaker's Handbook, but you will save a lot of time and effort by reading this book first.

While other books (by William Sunners and Helene Hovanec, to mention two) cover much of the same territory as The Random House Puzzlemaker's Handbook, Rosen and Kurzban present the information in a clear, step-by-step format that takes you from the history of crosswords to constructing your own simple puzzles, to how to submit for publication. There are exercises and templates, as well.

The book is a little out of date when it comes to markets, since it was published in 1995 and is now out of print with no prospect (at the moment) of a new edition. And the technology has left them behind, too, with nearly every professional constructor using software such as Crossword Compiler. But the rules of the crossword game haven't changed, or the strategies to use when your software has done all it can and you have to come up with that last corner.

The Random House Puzzlemaker's Handbook also includes chapters on constructing diagramless puzzles and cryptic crosswords, as well as excellent instructions on making acrostic puzzles.

If you can't see paying the going price for this out-of-print and hard-to-find book, maybe you can find it at the library, or even through inter-library loan. It's well worth the wait.

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