![]() ![]() For our purposes, though, let’s say that there are between 30 and 40 words on your list. The exact size of your creation, obviously, will be determined by the number of words you include. Keeping those factors in mind, start laying out your puzzle on quarter-inch graph paper. ![]() You may also have noticed that at least 75 percent of the letters in any given solution are found in circled words (editors frown on too much “empty” space). can be placed horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. If you’ve studied the answer diagrams in published brainteasers, you’ve undoubtedly noticed that words must: and a simple record keeping system! ConstructionĪll you need to “build” a puzzle is a good title, a list of appropriate words, and. That way, I have a ready supply of fresh puzzle ideas to develop while I’m waiting for a decision on earlier works. ![]() I put the title and sample word list on the front of the card, reserving the back to use for recording submittals by date mailed, date returned, and payment received (if any). I’ve found that typing the new ideas from my notebook onto 5 X 8 index cards once a week - and then filing the thought starters for future reference - really helps. Remember, too, that if you intend to earn a consistent income as a puzzle writer, you’ll have to generate a fairly steady flow of submissions. Just be sure, though, that you jot your ideas down! I always carry a pocket-sized memo notebook with me for this purpose. Children especially love this form of play as a rainy-day or travel activity. My family makes a game of brainstorming titles and word lists while we do our daily chores. Those otherwise idle minutes you tick off while riding on the bus or waiting in lines and offices make perfect “working hours”. and you don’t even have to schedule extra time to do it. one was titled “Can You Dig It?”, and the other “Sticks and Stones and Ancient Bones”.Īctually, conceiving puzzles can be a lot of fun. For example, I recently sold two different pieces based on similar lists of archaeological terms. Then you can simply change the initial word list somewhat, tack on a different heading, and - presto - you’ll have another moneymaking idea to turn into a puzzle. And to get more mileage out of your ideas, always try to come up with more than one title for any given puzzle. and can spell the difference between a sale and a rejection. In any case, keep in mind that unusual titles, or those that employ a play on words, are generally preferred by submissions editors. as in the puzzle that I captioned “What’s Up?”, which listed such diverse words as balloon, cloud, elevator, heads, inflation, soprano, and Venus. Others, however, take a somewhat less direct approach. Some puzzles are fairly straightforward in this regard: One of my creations, for instance, was called “Eggs citing” and included words describing how eggs can be cooked (baked, coddled, scrambled, etc.). Then think of a title - and a list of words - relating to that subject. You can build a theme around almost any topic: famous people or places, hobbies, activities, holidays, events, nature, careers. Usually, your first step is to come up with a basic subject for the puzzle. Scrutinize each puzzle carefully (paying particular attention to the relationship between the title and the word list, and to the way words are fit into the grid), and try to imagine the process the author went through to produce that particular game. To develop a feel for this unique craft - and for what editors buy - study a variety of word search magazines. I spend about 15 hours a week on this sideline myself and net more than $600 a month! How to Get Started Those seemingly small amounts can really add up, however, when you consider that - with practice - you can construct a salable word-search puzzle in a little over an hour. In my experience, though, $15 is an average payment for a medium sized square. On the other hand, selling a 21 X 23 “biggie” to a widely circulated national magazine could bring $100 or more. An 11 X 11 square (that is, a letter grid containing 11 rows of 11 letters each) may pay as little as $6.00. and on the size of the brainteaser itself. You can puzzle for profit, too! Just how much money you make for any given word search quiz, of course, will depend on the payment policy of the publication in question. ![]() Virtually all of the games in those specialized periodicals - as well as the similar puzzles featured regularly in mainstream consumer and trade magazines - are produced by people who have simply exercised a little imagination and tossed in a bit of humor to turn their spare time into cash. and if you doubt me, spend a few minutes at your local newsstand looking through any of the numerous word-search puzzle magazines now being published. You don’t have to be a professional writer to make good money with words. ![]()
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