Chris Derrick

@chrisderrick

Amateur puzzle constructer. Multiple NYT rejections. PDX.

All Over the Map

◆ · By guest constructor Chris Derrick and Jeff Linder · Published 12 months ago

I got this idea while tinkering with some fill on another puzzle. Jeff and I hammered out the grid and ended up ditching London, Ontario. After that, we worked together on the fill. I wrote the clues while bouncing ideas off Jeff.

For Baseball Nerds

◆ · Published 12 months ago

I’ve been tinkering with a baseball nicknames puzzle for a while and finally settled on this iteration. I made the rest of the fill and clues as baseball and sports centric as I could manage so as to lean into the theme. Feedback welcome.

Odds and Ends

◆ · By guest constructor Jeff Linder and Chris Derrick · Published about 1 year ago

This puzzle is a collaboration with fellow Crosshare user Jeff Linder. After coming up with the theme -- originally a 21x21 grid -- I sent the thematic skeleton of the grid to Jeff. He fleshed out the fill and then I wrote the clues. Any feedback is…

Sans Theme 7

◆ · Published over 1 year ago

Sans Theme 6

◆ · Published almost 2 years ago

I would like to get better at coming up with grid layouts, which is something I struggle with. This puzzle originated while tinkering with a grid pattern I found through a Google Image search. 28A came about via an auto-fill and I liked the idea of…

Sans Theme 5

◆ · Published over 2 years ago

The NYT puzzles now frequently feature Gen Z slang, advocate less stodgy language, and make more current cultural references, so I am trying to fold that into more of my puzzles. I didn't start with an idea -- just a desire to work more current…

Sans Theme 4

◆ · Published over 2 years ago

I like the rotational symmetry of 4D and 31D both being actors with 9-letter names. If you're a 'Gilmore Girls' fan, go back and look for 4D in a random episode in Season 4. I was not previously familiar with 41D so I hope the term isn't too esoteric…

Sans Theme 3

◆ · Published almost 3 years ago

This puzzle feels perfunctory to me when I look at it completed. I guess I was trying to make a typical Monday/Tuesday NYT puzzle. I think it came out okay, but a bit low-octane. I do like the clue for 1D because I rode this train a lot when I lived…

Presidential Wordplay

◆ · Published almost 3 years ago

themed

34A came to me first when I was kicking around ideas about a themed puzzle. I would like to get better at making themed puzzles so I took that initial idea and listed out the presidents by name to look for more wordplay opportunities. Ideally I would…

Sans Theme 2

◆ · Published almost 3 years ago

This is a pretty straightforward themeless puzzle. I was happy to work in the music references in 37A and 61A. 36D is a great museum to visit if you ever find yourself near Beacon, NY. - CD

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