Airman magazine needs Puzzle advice
McKennaPat
I'm a senior staff writer at Airman -- the magazine of America's Air Force. My
editors have decided to publish a monthly crossword puzzle in an effort to
increase reader interaction. And they've assigned me to write the thing!
I'm the first to admit I don't have a "clue" when it comes to crosswords. Can
you give me any advice on what type of software would be good for publishing a
professional-looking crossword? I'll be writing it on a computer running
Windows 95, but our designers and printers use Macintoshs.
Finally, are there any good books I should get on crossword puzzles?
Thanks
Pat
//SIGNED//
PATRICK M. McKENNA, TSgt, USAF
Senior Staff Writer, Airman Magazine
203 Norton Street, Kelly AFB, TX 78241-6105
DSN 945-7757, Com. (210) 925-7757
E-mail: pat.m...@afnews.af.mil
McKen...@aol.com
Read Airman on the Web at http://www.af.mil/news/airman
Peter van der Linden
>editors have decided to publish a monthly crossword puzzle in an effort to
>increase reader interaction. And they've assigned me to write the thing!
My God! What a dream of a job! Some people have all the luck.
>I'm the first to admit I don't have a "clue" when it comes to crosswords. Can
>you give me any advice on what type of software would be good for publishing a
>professional-looking crossword? I'll be writing it on a computer running
>Windows 95, but our designers and printers use Macintoshs.
There are a couple of crossword-writing and solving sites, at:
http://home.ipoline.com/~remic/index2.html
http://www.puzzledepot.com/java/czplayer.shtml
The first site has the rules on how to construct clues in the FAQ.
If you get software, make sure it is written in Java. This will allow
you to run the program on any computer -- your windows95 system, the
Mac used by the art people, Unix at the ISP or whatever.
Good luck, I envy you. BTW, you should also make the first two answers
across make a little phrase, just for fun. E.g. the first two words
across might be "Negative" and "Gees", or "Prop" and "wash" or
like "You" and "F.O." Don't tell anyone about this. It's just a
little extra fun. The Daily Telegraph in London does this with their
baby crossword.
John-O
A good book to start with would be "The Compleat Cruciverbalist". I don't
remember the author, but a search on Amazon or Barnes & Noble should turn it
up.
John Oster, Msgt (Ret.) USAF
McKennaPat wrote in message
<199809151914...@ladder03.news.aol.com>...
>Dear Group
>
>I'm a senior staff writer at Airman -- the magazine of America's Air Force.
My
>editors have decided to publish a monthly crossword puzzle in an effort to
>increase reader interaction. And they've assigned me to write the thing!
>
>I'm the first to admit I don't have a "clue" when it comes to crosswords.
Can
>you give me any advice on what type of software would be good for
publishing a
>professional-looking crossword? I'll be writing it on a computer running
>Windows 95, but our designers and printers use Macintoshs.
>