PortalsOS

I was into fill-it-in puzzles, which look just like crosswords, but instead of clues, it gives you a list of answers alphabetized by length.

One of the really cool things the New York Times puzzle team does is accept crossword submissions from around the country. Anybody can send a puzzle in and you hear back from the editors with feedback.

Sam Azerski believes that there's no such thing as cheating in crossword puzzles unless it feels like cheating to you. He emphasizes that it's your puzzle, and you should solve it however you like, whether using a pen, pencil, or even Google.

Joel Faliano reflects on his first experience with New York Times puzzles, where he struggled to solve them and put them aside for two years. He later realized that puzzle-solving is better as a communal and learning activity.

The New York Times receives upwards of 150 crossword submissions each week from around the world. Editors sort these into categories: immediate rejections, maybes, and accepted puzzles. The editing process primarily involves changing clues rather than altering the puzzle's words.

Family members often play New York Times games together, turning it into a ritual where they solve puzzles and discuss the words that should or shouldn't be included.