Will Shortz: The Mastermind of Modern Crossword Puzzles

Who Is Will Shortz?

Born in August 1952, Will Shortz is a renowned American crossword and puzzle creator as well as the crossword editor for the New York Times. He has held that role since 1993 but his time with puzzles started at an early age, as he wrote a paper in the eighth grade titled “Puzzles as a Profession”. In the years after that, Shortz’s obsession and love for puzzles and crosswords grew, and by the age of 16, he was actively contributing to crossword puzzles for Dell publications.

Shortz continued doing that and eventually graduated from university with a degree in enigmatology, the study of puzzles. His thesis was also about the history of American word puzzles and he even designed his own curriculum through Indiana University's Individualized Major Program. After he graduated, he earned a law degree but never sat for the bar exam and began a career in puzzles, with roles at Penny Press Magazine and Games magazine before he moved to the New York Times.

He is also the founder of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament and has been its director since its creation in 1978. Not only that, he is also the puzzle master on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday since 1987 and is now a renowned crossword creator across the world.

Will Shortz’s Contributions to The New York Times Crossword

Appointed in 1993, Will Shortz became the fourth editor for the New York Times Crossword following in the footsteps of Margaret Farrar, Will Weng, and his predecessor Eugene T. Maleska. This appointment was met with a lot of excitement especially given Shortz’s experience and his love for crosswords and puzzles ever since he was a young child. That is showcased in the fact that he is one of the few people in the world with a degree in enigmatology, the study of puzzles.

Shortz’s goal, when he became the editor of the Times’ Crossword, was to maintain the quality as well as the intellectual demands of the crossword. But at the same time, he wanted to improve and transform the puzzle, which he did by bringing in young contributors, modern vocabulary, and fresh themes. Furthermore, over the course of his career, Shortz changed the New York Times crossword by bringing in more accessible clues which helped make solving far more enjoyable for players.

He also happily embraced the digital age, bringing the Times’ crossword online, and later bridged the gap by playing a key role in the mobile app. The quality of the crossword under Shortz has also improved tremendously with the New York Times crossword now considered to be one of the best around.

Interviews and Insights from the Crossword Master

There’s no denying Will Shortz has transformed the world of puzzles and crosswords with the New York Times crossword editor playing a key role in the puzzle boom in the digital age. His unique background combined with his love for puzzles has shaped his approach to constructing and played a key role in the way he has run and shaped the New York Times crossword. So much so, that his insights are now sought after by constructors and solvers alike with many keen on hearing his thoughts on the evolution of the crossword.

On crosswords: “Crosswords have changed as our culture and language have changed."

On allowing brand names: "Commercial names and brand names are part of life and the crossword should reflect life."

On the evolution of language: "As language and the culture have loosened, the crossword should change as well."

On the level of difficulty in a puzzle: "You should do crosswords for their entertainment value and the nice thing about it is that there are lots of things in life that are entertaining: crosswords are good for you."

On the New York Times crossword: "Solving the New York Times crossword is going to be valuable because crossword puzzles touch every aspect of life and they connect you with things you wouldn't necessarily explore on your own."

On his puzzle construction philosophy: "A puzzle is a delicate balancing act. It must push the solver to think laterally, to stretch their cognitive muscles. Yet, it should never feel unsolvable."

How Will Shortz Helped Revolutionize Crossword Tournaments

Few people and constructors have had as big of an impact on crossword tournaments as much as Will Shortz has as the New York Times crossword editor and the founder of two different tournaments. He’s famously known to be the director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (ACPT) which he founded in 1978. Now the nation’s oldest crossword tournament, it has become a key part of the yearly crossword calendar for many solvers.

The tournament has eight original crossword puzzles that have been specifically created for the event with scoring based on speed and accuracy. Not only that, anyone is free to participate although registrations are limited with a specific number of players allowed in a tournament. The ACPT also has a social component to it with guest speakers, a reception, and more.

The other tournament is the Word Puzzle Championship and while it was the brainchild of Levi Summers, Shortz created the WPC to help overcome the flaws of the International Crossword Marathon. Unlike the ACPT, the WPC features players from across the world and as of 2024, 34 countries are official members of the WPC although individual players can take part if their countries aren’t doing so.

Exploring Will Shortz’s Puzzle Collection and Trivia

While he has been the editor of the New York Times crossword since 1993, Will Shortz’s love for puzzles and crosswords began when he was still a child. That reflects even now with Shortz being well-known for having a massive collection of puzzle books and magazines. So much so, that the now 72-year-old often lends his books for use at exhibitions and more, as he has confirmed to have over 25,000 puzzle books and magazines that date back all the way to 1534 alongside small mechanical puzzles, pamphlets, and more. 

He also owns the first-ever crossword that was published in 1913, in the New York World, as well as “The Ardmore Puzzler” (1899-1909). Shortz also has an entire shelf in his collection dedicated to his puzzle-making hero, Sam Loyd. Not only that, Shortz has also written and edited over 100 books on puzzles and crosswords, including "Games Magazine Presents Will Shortz's Best Brain Busters" and a few others.