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Winna Liu shared that when she started solving the New York Times Crossword, she would leave answers blank if she didn't know them, as a form of self-punishment. She now recommends looking up answers to learn and improve.

A good puzzle creates a sense of accomplishment. Whether it's the daily jolt from Wordle or cracking a tough crossword theme, feeling achievement is key.

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.

New York Times crosswords are ordered by difficulty: Monday is the easiest, Saturday is the hardest, and Sunday is large and medium in difficulty. Editing often involves adjusting clues to match the intended difficulty level.

Working at the New York Times, you often hear from people in your life about puzzles they didn't like. It becomes a part of the job to receive and consider this feedback.

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.