Blog extra: a comment on the last post, and some tips

I was in the middle of typing a long response to an anonymous comment on the last crossword, and thought it might be worth a new post. I hope Llig, if a reader, liked the comments on the last puzzle. Tackling a thematic puzzle can be immensely frustrating if you have absolutely no idea what is going on or can't solve the clues, or can be incredibly fun if you manage to rip through one and have it all done by the end of the day. I seem to be averaging about six solving sessions on ones that I complete, and usually more on ones I can't figure out.

Here's what has helped me the most - some of this was in a really early post, but I should update it.

There is a 26-part series that I think only ran in the online Times on the Listener crossword. It helped in sorting out the basics, what to expect from preambles, themes and what reference books to get. It is now well-hidden, but the first part is here, and has links to the rest.

Solving clues was (and in the case of some setters, still is) a big challenge to me, because I had really only done two cryptic crosswords regularly, the Times and the Melbourne Age. There are conventions and clue types used in the Listener that do not appear in either of those. Phi suggested I do the Independent crossword, and it appears a few of the Listener setters are regular Independent setters. It's also a really fun solve, and you can check answers right away. You can do it online for free, but there doesn't appear to be a print option. Here is the link, but be warned, it will try to run a java thing straight away and may freeze your computer momentarily.

Another aid to solving clues us to check through all the ones you couldn't get carefully at the detailed solutions page on the Listener website. To be honest, I haven't been looking at the solutions on the Times page, since this page has a complete solve and notes. You can also try getting one answer at a time and see if that helps you get further. There's also some reviews on the clues by Gregson that are put up at Derek Harrison's Crossword Centre message board (I comment there occasionally).

And finally, Bradford's is an essential! Not easy to get in the US, (Amazon is currently claiming that the third edition is being released on April 1, but mine is the 6th edition), but great to get you off the "one-track definition" mind, say if you see the word "repair" and think it must mean "get something fixed", while it might mean "to leave" - words that fit both definitions are side by side.

Everyone keep having fun! Right now you could be solving a maze, uncovering misprints, or cutting up pieces of paper into non-overlapping shapes.