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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.

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.

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.

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.