Mini Crosswords

Mini Crossword Puzzles
Originally created and coded in Python.

Inspiration:
As a fan of the New York Times daily puzzles, especially the mini crossword, I enjoy the satisfaction of solving clues and fitting answers. After playing many crosswords, I began creating my own mini puzzles and coding a program using Python’s pygame library to display them, inspired by the New York Times app. I invite others to try solving them too!

Puzzle Creation:
Creating a 5x5 crossword was more challenging than expected, especially ensuring words existed both across and down. I researched puzzle creation and found a video by Joel Fagliano, the NYT senior puzzles editor, who shared his process: starting with a central 5-letter word, adjusting for difficult letters, and alternating consonants and vowels. I applied these methods to design three mini crosswords blending pop culture, history, and wordplay, paying attention to accurate clues with proper tense and punctuation.