Indirect anagrams are not allowed. 10D is valid ("all moss" is in the clue, and it anagrams to the answer), 1D isn't (there's a definition for "rasps" when the word "rasps" itself should be in the clue). As far as I know, this kind of "indirect" clue is also banned with "even"/"odd" indicators - so the clue for TVS using sToVeS should be reworked - but maybe a more experienced cryptic constructor/solver can confirm this.
SECTS - great one. I definitely wasn't expecting you to go that way with any of the clues.
Use of indirect fodder for anagrams, hidden entries, and letter selection is generally frowned upon, depending on who you talk to. There's a bunch of cryptic crossword history involving someone called Ximenes who proposed some rules for making clues fair for the solver, but rules are made to be broken! That said, I would encourage you to learn and stick to the guidelines to begin with, before you start bending them for creative licence.
Congrats on your first cryptic, especially for 2D!
Hopefully that updates soon. As soon as I saw that 12D fit there, I had to.
MisterDJ 🤓5:06 · 2023-08-19T18:56:23.778Z
I liked that it was easy enough for this cryptic beginner, but still had some fun and clever clues.
merlinnimue 🤓6:53 · 2023-08-19T19:57:01.585Z
Lots of fun and interesting clues, I was tickled by 8a, 13a, 17a, and especially 2d!!
Lots of indirect anagrams, people cry foul over that... though personally I dont see why... and I didn't think any of yours were unfair
I thought there was an issue with 9a, unless I'm misunderstanding the parse (which is likely) as she+eke(l)s, which has an extra e... maybe [that girl almost...]? Also I think the def for SLALOMS should match quantity... unless the plural can be used for a single race, idk... if the previous geniuses didn't find any issues with these, then I'm probably off my rocker
Still, great first attempt, better than anything this frustrated failure could dream up
trevorm 24:01 · 2023-08-22T19:25:01.787Z
I got 15A from 'sausage', but I can't see how the rest of the clue works. I'm probably missing something obvious.
As others have already noted, indirect anagrams are at the setters discretion; they definitely make a puzzle harder for stuff like 15A, where you have to identify two synonyms and then mix the letters together (at least the crossers and definition were clear). For a first cryptic, you also found some really clever misdirects, like 4A, where "hide" looks like a hidden indicator, but is instead a verb (as in to flog, or beat "steps"); I don't think the grammar's entirely accurate there—would be something like A hid B, I think?—but I'm still learning myself. Same thing with matching numbers: 18A is clued as "vehicle" but the answer is a plural, which calls for "vehicles." I'd also double-check the surface sense of stuff like 1D and 5D—even if the cryptic grammar works, does the clue's meaning?
I really liked 1A, 7A, 17A, 2D, and 4D; looking forward to more cryptics from you!
Congrats on your first cryptic, especially for 2D!