The first thing to do is (obviously!) write a
crossword, or preferably several. Satisfy yourself that
it meets all the requirements of a decent paper – for
example
- Symmetrical grid
- All spellings (especially the answers) correct
- Clue numbers and enumerations (numbers in brackets at the end of each clue) correct
- Anagrams work correctly
- All clues are fair
- No references in the clues or answers are potentially libellous or offensive
The chances
are high that even if you are accepted as a compiler by
a given publication, they will ask you to write puzzles
using their own grids, which means your original puzzle
won’t be used. First impressions are important, though,
and a puzzle riddled with errors is unlikely to get you
very far.
If
possible, try it out on a few competent solvers first.
You may get some useful feedback and they may spot a
typo or wrongly numbered clue that you’ve overlooked. It
is also a good way to tell if you are pitching your
clues at the right level. For example, if your mate does
the Times in 15 minutes every day but hasn’t
finished your puzzle after four hours, then it is
probably too hard. It is best to err on the side of
simplicity when starting out; a common error among new
compilers (and that includes my first attempts) is to
try to be too clever.
If all
is well and you are happy with your puzzle, then it is
time to send it off. These days email is considered just as valid as post for formal correspondence, so it’s up to you to choose which you use. If you are using email I would suggest sending an initial mail to ask if it is OK to send your puzzle. Emails are easily ignored and messages with attachments can end up in a spam filter so it’s a good idea to alert the relevant person that the puzzle’s on its way. It’s also a good idea to find out which file format would be preferred for the attachments. It is good practice to include,
with your covering message or letter:
- A copy of the puzzle, blank
- A completed grid with a brief explanation for each clue
- A stamped, addressed envelope (if sending by post).
That’s the
easy bit done. It’s now time for a bit of depressing
news!
We’d all
like to start at one of the broadsheets, but that’s not
going to happen. All of them, Times,
Guardian, Telegraph etc, have a set
team of compilers and they add new ones only when one of
their present incumbents is either unable or unwilling
to write any more puzzles. Even when a rare vacancy does
arise, they are unlikely to accept anyone without some
proven experience elsewhere. Thus it’s a good idea not
to expect too much at the start – however good your
puzzle is you are unlikely to see it appear in, say, the
Times at the first time of asking. I would say
that most, if not all, of the puzzles I have published
on the Guest Puzzles page would not be out of place in a
broadsheet newspaper, but unfortunately it isn’t as
simple as that. I have published a great many
puzzles in various papers around the country, including
a couple of Times Listeners, but it took me a
very long time to get my foot in the door with the
broadsheets.
Nothing
ventured, nothing gained, however – so I suggest you
still write to them. Your puzzle may just arrive at a
time when one of their regulars has left and a
replacement is desperately being sought. In the past
most of the crossword editors of these
papers were very helpful, and the editor for
the Times is still very quick to respond and
usually offers useful feedback. It
appears that no amount of persistence will elicit a
response from the crossword editor for the
Guardian, however high the standard of
submitted work. I suppose that unsolicited puzzles
are technically junk mail, but it is hard to believe
that editors receive hundreds of applications from
wannabe compilers. A standard rejection
slip would be enough if the applicant provides
a prepaid envelope, but sadly even in the genteel world
of crosswords common courtesy is not a
given.
A more
realistic ambition is to try the many local and regional
papers in this country. Many magazines publish puzzles
too, which gives further alternatives. You can find the
names and postal addresses of all UK publications in
the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook. Admittedly, writing for the
Nowhere News doesn’t carry quite the same kudos
as writing for the Guardian or Times,
but it is a good place to
start.
Be prepared
for a lot of rejections! These papers may not be so
cliquey as the broadsheets, but most of them are small
concerns who have one or two compilers working for them
and simply have no room for any more. Few of them
actually have a crossword editor, so it’s best to
address your application to the paper’s chief editor
(their names are given in the Yearbook). I would send
explanatory notes with the answers to all publications;
the effort may be wasted in most cases, but if the
editor knows a bit about crosswords and is thinking
about taking someone on, it could well count in your
favour.
Perseverance is the key here. When I first
started writing around I think I must have sent my
puzzle to almost every publication in the country. If
your puzzle is good enough, you will eventually get an
offer, but it does take time – you will need a lot of patience (and it can cost a fortune in stamps!). It was my experience that most local
newspapers responded quickly and politely, and some of
them were decent enough to return my prepaid envelope
under their own cover so I could use it again. Magazines
are more variable; some reply quickly, others less so,
and many not at all. The worst offenders for not
replying are the national tabloids. I suggest you write
to as many papers and magazines as you can; don’t wait
for each one to reply before moving on or you’ll be
applying for years! And finally on this point, at the
risk of stating the patronisingly obvious: “we have put
you on file and will let you know if a vacancy arises”
is almost always a polite way of saying “no
thanks”.
Some papers get their
crosswords from agencies, which supply several papers (I
used to work for one of these). If so, they may well
point you in their
direction.
It is
worth mentioning that crossword writing is not an easy
means of escape from that boring office job. It pays
poorly, so even if you are writing one per day, you may
well not be able to afford to give up the day job. You
will need to find several outlets for your puzzles
before you can be sure you can rely on it as the sole
means of paying the rent!
I have
been as frank as possible in the above – there is no
point in pretending that it’s easy to find a job as a
compiler. The puzzles I have been sent suggest to me
that there is an untapped wealth of good compilers
around, but in many ways it is like getting a book
published – supply is greater than
demand.
There
is one other route you can follow. If you merely want to
see a puzzle in print every so often, why not try
writing a thematic crossword for one of the weekend
papers? The Listener (Times), Sunday
Telegraph Enigmatic Variations and Saturday
Independent take puzzles from all comers – here
merit is the only standard used to
determine whether a puzzle will be accepted. They
are hard to write and rigorous Ximenean standards are
expected, but the end results can be very satisfying. In
addition, regular appearances in these quarters may open
doors elsewhere.
I hope
this has been of some help. I regret that I can’t make
representations on behalf of aspiring compilers, but if
you are serious about becoming a crossword writer, keep
persevering. Good luck and remember that if all else
fails, you can always start your own web
site!
If you
have any questions about points discussed in this
article, click
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