Doing crossword puzzles is a great way to stimulate brain health, learn new words and have fun. But, do you ever wonder who creates those challenging grids?
Although many people think they’re computer-generated, that’s not the case. Although computers can assist, it takes a skilled person to develop the actual puzzles.
“I've been solving crossword puzzles my whole life, but I never thought about who made them,” said Gainesville resident John Kugelman. “I never paid attention to the names on the puzzles, the authors. I guess I just assumed they were computer-made.”
When he realized that wasn’t true, he decided to try creating one of his own. The first one was for his father, a huge crossword puzzle fan, about 10 years ago, but he didn’t actually start creating them on a regular basis until 2022.
Today, his crosswords routinely show up in the New York Times, the pinnacle of the crossword puzzle world. Even more impressive, he had the most Sunday puzzles published last year. Sunday puzzles are larger and more complicated than those published on other days of the week.
“I currently have had nine published and another seven have been accepted,” he said.
A software developer by day, Kugelman has been focused on cybersecurity for 20 years and has even worked on submarine defense systems. In the evenings, he enjoys hobbies that engage both hemispheres of his brain.
He has always loved putting words together, and before doing crossword puzzles, he wrote song lyrics. He also plays the guitar and a little piano. Now, in addition to his full-time career, he works on puzzles every night.
So, how do these crosswords actually come together?
“There are two different kinds of puzzles – themed and themeless. I like doing themed ones, so for me, it always starts with trying to come up with a kind of wordplay,” he said. “I then jot down a lot of examples because you usually need about half a dozen examples to make a puzzle out of them.”
He related it to telling the same joke over and over again, just in a different way.
“The last puzzle I did was taking the word ‘wheel,’ but starting it off with ‘sq,’ so, ‘Wheel of Fortune’ became ‘Squeal of Fortune.’ ‘The Great Wall of China’ turned into ‘the great squall of China.’ I then found ways to clue it.”
That, explained Kugelman, is step one. Step two is building the grid and making the words all come together. This is where computer software can help.
“It doesn't do it for you, but it helps to show you the different words that can fit in the letter patterns needed. But, even when you have the software, using it is pretty difficult. You still have to figure out where to put the black squares and where to put the answers. It doesn't just arrange it for you.”
He is always coming up with ideas, which he records in notebooks and on scraps of paper and his phone. “I have notes everywhere that you can take notes.”
Just like writers, puzzlers have their own styles. Puzzles can have very visual elements, and Kugelman recalled one in the NYT where the black squares looked like hot air balloons and the answers involved hot air balloon language.
“It was very cool, but that's not my style,” Kugelman said. “Mine are word-play heavy. I usually start with some kind of pun or a ‘dad joke’ type of thing. My editor, Will Shortz, likes consistency and wants me to stick to what he's expecting from me.”
Shortz is the lead crossword editor at the New York Times and has been there since the mid-1990s. “He's the guy. If there's anybody in the crossword world that’s famous, it’s him. He's also on NPR every week and does their puzzle segments.”
Shortz said The New York Times receives 150-200 puzzle submissions per week, but Kugelman’s stand out, and he’s a reliable creator. “Each of John’s crosswords for the Times is based on a simple idea that he develops consistently and creatively. His puzzles have a wonderful playfulness about them.”
For example Kugelman’s most recent puzzle for The Times included “Hoi Polloi,” “Moon Rock,” “Humble Pie,” “Seussian,” A.I. Art,” “Bilge Pump” and “Walrus Mustache.”
“That's great stuff!” Shortz said. “Also, I love John's grids, which are professionally made and full of lively vocabulary.”
To the extent there is a typical crossword puzzle creator, Kugelman seems to fit the description.
“Crossword constructors tend to have quirky, wide-ranging minds. They're interested in a little of everything. They love language. And, of course, they spell well,” Shortz said. “They come from all walks of life. The most common professions are probably musicians and computer programmers. But, really, they’re everybody.”
Kugelman has created over 50 puzzles since 2022 and some have been published in other newspapers, including local papers, through syndicates that buy and distribute content from the New York Times.
“They end up in hundreds of different newspapers,” he said. “That has been cool because … I can see them in local papers.”
Susan Baldani writes articles about small town life, local businesses and interesting people for various publications. Her website is mywritingwall.com and she can be reached at suebaldani@yahoo.com.
Be sure to try your hand at Kugleman's Haymarket-Gainesville-themed puzzle on the next page we've published.
Originally published by HAYMARKET GAINESVILLE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE, an affiliate of INSIDENOVA. All rights reserved. See more from HGLM.
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