Kathy Weinberg has been solving crossword puzzles for over 30 years. Her husband Roger became interested in the activity and so it began.
“I started working with Roger on the New York Time’s Monday puzzle. Monday’s version is the easiest and they get harder each day and Sunday’s puzzle is huge,” said Kathy.
Soon, however, the couple would do more than solving the puzzles.
Kathy and Roger Weinberg are featured here, holding “Tea Times” in Times and the 2018 Simon and Schuster’s Annual Crossword Puzzle Books. (Photo by Christine Such/Sun Day)
Roger said, “The idea of creating the puzzles came during the first polar vortex. It was a good time to start.”
The couple soon discovered that breaking into the crossword market was a puzzle itself.
“We submitted our first puzzle to the New York Times and got rejected. We then hooked up with a mentor, Jeff Chen. He helped us get started. He’s a top-notch puzzle constructor,” Kathy said.
Chen helped the couple with size specifications, standard practices, and tips for construction.
“Finally Chen liked one of our ideas, but it did not get pick up with the New York Times. They rejected it, but the LA Times picked it up,” said Roger.
Kathy added, “LA Times puzzles are syndicated also, and they appear in the Tribune the same day.”
Four years ago, they received their first victory.
“On December 22, 2014, the first puzzle was published,” said Roger.
Through the process, the couple has learned about the art and industry of crosswords.
“The New York Times receives about 70-100 submissions each week,” Roger said. “They are looked for themed puzzles. It has to be symmetrical and a consistent theme.”
In addition to submission guidelines, crossword puzzle creators must use a combination of logic and creativity.
“Roger has a strong math background which helps in the creation of the puzzle. We did them all by hand for a while and then we bought our own software.” Kathy explained.
How does the couple continue to create new puzzles?
Kathy explained, “We think of words where ever we go. We have a bank of words that eventually leads us to a theme.”
Roger added, “We are constantly looking for newly added words to the dictionary.”
Sometimes, they outsource.
“We sometimes call our kids and ask them to think of words to add to our theme,” said Kathy.
Roger explained the construction.
“We link the longer words together in the center. It has to be symmetrical and balance with the same amount of letter,” he said.
Kathy added, “We are constantly counting letters in words.”
What is the most challenging part?
“Writing the clues can be hard. Editors change the clues all the time. The acceptance rate of clues written is about 40%,” said Roger.
Kathy said, “The hardest part of submitting your finished crossword puzzle to an editor is the waiting. We wait months once we submit to the New York Times. We cannot submit to anyone else while we are waiting for the answer.”
And the wait is not a short one.
Roger provides. “The New York Times is the only one that requires submission by snail mail. We submit about 6 pieces of paper, a cover letter, the puzzle, answer, and clues. But their response comes via email.”
The couple has been very successful. They have been published in the New York times 5 times, with 3 more accepted waiting on publication. The LA Times, which can be seen in the Chicago Tribune, has 14 of the couple’s puzzles published. Other credits include The Wall Street Journal, The Crossword Club, Chronicle Of Higher Education, and Simon and Schuster.
The couple has also been nominated for the Orca award, an event celebrating outstanding achievement in crossword construction and editing.
