Making some cross words
Told by Sam Griffiths and Sarah Dollar
Following
Sep 20 · 10 min read
Designing some cross words — Sam
As someone who loves play, I want to make thinks that people can play with, so puzzles and games are things I’m really interested in.
I’ve always liked cryptic crosswords. I’m not very good at them — I’ve attempted the Guardian’s many times only to get stuck after only solving two or three clues. It’s so frustrating. But it’s also very satisfying when you work something out and you know it’s right. Part of what keeps me coming back to these puzzles is the wit and playfulness of the setters and the language they use — they are so devious!
A few months ago I thought it might be possible to tell a story using this type of crossword, and the most obvious one to tell was my own experience of them — a story of hope, frustration, failure and perhaps one day, triumph.
I loosely sketched out the story, using the crossword grids themselves to illustrate seven steps.
So now I had an idea of the shape if the project I just needed help to write the clues. I knew this would be a lot of work, so it was more in hope than expectation that I posted a request for help on Instagram. I was really chuffed when Sarah said she’d like to get involved.
Writing some cross words — Sarah
Having not been a regular Instagrammer, I looked at a post I had been tagged in last June. Sam had posted his booklet of brilliant images that told a story. They were created entirely out of crossword grids, and my brother had suggested that I might be interested in helping him fill them with actual clues! We were introduced.
I have never completed the Guardian cryptic crossword single-handedly. It was an activity that I relished attempting with my mum, cup of tea in hand, pencils, pens and note paper at the ready. Once we attempted it via text message while I was in hospital having my second child! (The crossword was left unfinished that day!) Sam’s notes on the final crossword resonated; ‘the day I actually complete the cryptic in the Guardian will be so sweet.’ Well. If you can’t beat them, join them! I was in!
Sam provided me with the images and themes for each crossword in the booklet. As you will already be aware, the images tell the story of hope, desperation and triumph that often comes with the accomplishment of filling a crossword with solutions.
Have you ever filled in a crossword with solutions for which you have no clues? It’s freeing, let me tell you! I experienced the feeling of triumph just by filling a grid with words and phrases that tied in with the theme! Although, this process in itself was a challenge. The part that made this tougher was that, in order for Sam to create meaningful images, he’d used a lot of shorter words. Crossword no. 4, for instance, has over a dozen three letter words. How does one make words like ‘see’ or ‘lot’ interesting enough without turning it into the Vernam cypher?
Once I had filled all seven grids with words and phrases that both Sam and I were happy with, I set to work creating the clues that should lead to them. Only them. Anyone who knows cryptic crosswords knows that the clue should only have one definite answer. I’m sure I haven’t achieved the concision that the big cryptics offer, and knowing the answer to your own code is no test of how well it’s done. I am eager to know what people think of the clues, let me know by leaving feedback on Sam’s website!
Working within the constructs of the themes wasn’t as problematic as I thought it would be. Words are great! With a bit of playing around, most can be made relevant to any topic, especially when coupled with a clue that can point towards context.
It was fairly intense writing the clues for the booklet. On the occasions that my mum and I would sit down with the Guardian, we didn’t put it down to pick up the next day. We stuck it out until, either, we finished triumphant or gave up, vowing to switch to the Times because, of course, THAT would have been totally achievable!
I had the same kind of attitude towards writing the clues. Of course I didn’t do it in a day, but the momentum didn’t leave me. I dreamt in cryptic clues with a notepad close at hand for middle-of-the-night inspiration. My home was redecorated with post-it notes and printouts of crossword grids, all scrawled over in pencil (or pen, if I felt really sure about a particular clue).
I reacquainted myself with the thesaurus, got better at asking the internet really specific questions and just became obsessed with words for a few months. How they looked upside down, backwards, what they rhymed with, meant in a different language, if they had numerical representations within them. Were they archaic? Were they in style? American spellings, English spellings, Germanic, Latin…ad nauseam (Latin term for a discussion that has continued to the point of nausea fyi!).
I cycled through each of the seven stages in the booklet, several times with each crossword. It served as a reminder of what we were trying to create.
I hope that I have succeeded in my part, to create with Sam, a booklet that will immerse you in play. Play with words. Play with meanings. Get obsessed with it and let me know how you would write the clues differently.
Get your game face on…success is sweet!
A chat about working together — Sarah and Sam
Hey Sarah — so how did you find working together on this? (Sam)
This was my first experience of collaborating with someone on a project like this. For the first couple of weeks I was waiting to actually speak with you! I thought it would be essential for that to happen at some point, but the way we’ve done it, it’s felt really unpressured, like play in itself! Having your feedback so quickly whenever I asked for your input on a clue, word or anything, really helped.
It really whetted my appetite for creative writing, something I used to do lots of but had drifted. I got so much out of it! (Sarah)
That’s great, and yes it’s a bit mad that we still haven’t spoken! Hahaha.
What were your thoughts on the project initially? I think these are the first crosswords clues you have written! Were you a bit trepidatious? (Sam)
The idea grabbed me right away! I have a ridiculous love of playing with words. The opportunity to create a whole set of crosswords meant not only play but having an audience that might appreciate it!! (Sarah)
I think part of what makes it a successful collaboration is that we’re both playing, but from different sides of the project. Do you recall what sparked your playful way with words? (Sam)
I think you’re right re: what made it a success. Combining playful images with the logic of cryptic clues worked really well. I had a fairly serious accident when I was a kid. After this I had to use a keyboard to communicate for some time as I was unable to speak. I began writing poetry and mucking about with language then. (Sarah)
Wow I had no idea! Play was almost a way of connecting I guess? But also, it was a way to build your own worlds? (Sam)
Absolutely. It was the only way of communicating at the time, and being able to play in that way taught me new ways/reestablished ways to communicate ‘normally’. I suppose that’s pretty much your manifesto? That we can learn through play? (Sarah)
Absolutely. I wonder if it helped being a child at the time, in terms of being able to find a way through with play. As play is so natural at that age. And now having that experience, it’s an ability you can tap into whenever you need it? (Sam)
I think it is fascinating. As a child ‘play’ is a totally acceptable way to learn. It’s so powerful. From that point of view I think it helped that I was a child at the time. But also (and I’m no authority on the subject) but I believe that new pathways can be created in a child’s brain far more easily than in an adults. (Sarah)
Yes I agree. I’m interested in ways of giving grown ups the license to play as the brain is also (I’m very much not an authority either) very plastic and can change — and I really do believe it’s the best way to learn. I think this meeting of words and pictures feels like a good place to get people started — what do you think? (Sam)
Some of the most knowledgeable people I’ve known have been avid crossworders. They absorb the knowledge, the answers to the clues, probably because they’re playing! They are researching the answers themselves and each success is hard won, they hold on to the information (most of it!). But crosswords can be dry. They’re off-putting. Combining crosswords with your images makes it more obviously play. A game. (Sarah)
That’s a great insight I think. They look dry but our treatment of them hints at the degree of playfulness in the language of the clues themselves. That’s always been the thing I’ve liked most about crosswords — the wit. I think there’s also the perception that they’re a bit elitist, or they make people think they’re a bit thick for not being able to do them. I really want to help people get past that so they can enjoy them. I wonder what else is ripe for this kind of treatment? (Sam)
Have you considered redesigning the layout of any other puzzles? Sudoku for instance? I’m not sure I can think of how they may be altered, but that might be something to think about? People just feel daunted by these puzzles before they’ve had a chance to look at them. They’re all just codes aren’t they? If you’re familiar with crosswords in one paper, you may not find another so easy. (Sarah)
I think that’s the way in — look for things people are afraid of or intimidated by, and try to make them playful. Sudoku I’ve not thought about, but puzzles in general I would like to look at further. I guess it’s making things into games — because I want to make things that require participation. (Sam)
I think participation is key, when there is a game, like a crossword, that can be participated in by more than one player, and it becomes a social thing too, I think it becomes more powerful. (Sarah)
Absolutely.
I really enjoy working with writers — and it’s something I’m keen to do more of. I love what writers can do, and the amazing power that words can have. I’d also like to write more myself — what tips would you have for someone like me who wants to write? (Sam)
It’s not a particularly original answer, but, write. Just write. I have, as you know, started writing kids picture books (those words have such a close relationship with images, so it wasn’t much of a leap!). Write it down, leave it for a few days before coming back to it, and see what shape it has. (Sarah)
Lovely. Sorry one more question — did you have anything you’d like to ask re: the project, words or play or whatnot? (Sam)
The relationship between images and words is an interesting one.
How do you see them complimenting each other? Was it difficult to
create the images for this? Was there a lot of logic in it? (Sarah)
I think the idea behind the images was the question — could I get images out of a standard crossword grid? and could they tell a little story? and would they still function as proper puzzles? I see them as gently supporting the theme for each of the puzzles. Does that make any sense? (Sam)
Yes, definitely. I loved working with them. They’re really great. And they reinforce the feeling of play throughout the booklet. They’re really humorous too! Have you considered trying to sell them to a public paper? (Sarah)
That’s not occurred to me — but that would be lovely wouldn’t it! (Sam)
I think they have fairly standard grid patterns that they ask their crossword writers to stick to, but they do occasionally take ‘guest contributors’. Could be fun! (Sarah)
Great idea. I’ll get one in the post to the Guardian’s crossword editor — you never know! (Sam)
No cross words
I’m in awe of the amount of work Sarah (and her army of helpers) put into this project, and the high bar for quality they maintained throughout.
It was also very enjoyable to collaborate on this. Much of my Griffics work has been me on my own, but it’s much more fun to bring something into the world by working with others.
