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A puzzle should be solvable. There's nothing worse than a puzzle that's too hard to complete. We want people to solve our puzzles.

Humor adds to the enjoyment of puzzles. It's a form of communication between the creator and the solver, making the experience more playful and fun.

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.

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.

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.