Chris Derrick

@chrisderrick

Amateur puzzle constructer. Multiple NYT rejections. PDX.

This is an old puzzle I made several years ago that I had forgotten about and just found again in a folder on my computer. It's not top-notch stuff and it has too many 3 letter answers, but I liked the theme.

All Over the Map

◆ · Por el constructor invitado Chris Derrick and Jeff Linder · Publicado hace 12 meses

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

◆ · Publicado hace alrededor de 1 año

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

◆ · Por el constructor invitado Jeff Linder and Chris Derrick · Publicado hace alrededor de 1 año

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

◆ · Publicado hace más de 1 año

Sans Theme 6

◆ · Publicado hace casi 2 años

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

◆ · Publicado hace más de 2 años

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

◆ · Publicado hace más de 2 años

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

◆ · Publicado hace casi 3 años

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