Cryptic Attempt #1

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• Probably Apocryphal constructor · 2022-02-23T07:36:04.428Z

  First go at a full (miniature-sized) cryptic. Criticism welcome

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• Mike D 2:08 · 2022-02-23T15:06:08.404Z

  Nice! I'm not too great at cryptics so I usually end up just revealing the grid and going through to see how they all worked. Some fun ones in here! I've never seen a word in the clue get split like indeed for DEFLATED - very clever. I almost wonder if that one should have an exclamation mark though since it seems the whole clue is both the def and the wordplay? But take that with a grain of salt like I said I'm no expert

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• jasonwestley 🤓9:55 · 2022-02-23T21:14:10.669Z

  Nice puzzle. Plenty of good clueing. 15A made me laugh!

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• kieranjboyd 6:50 · 2022-02-23T22:31:27.867Z

  A great first cryptic! You should be proud!

  Here's my feedback as requested:

  Grid fill:

  • A nice classic UK-style grid, with a good mix of lengths. SHEL is a little obscure, but it did allow for the excellent ECHIDNAS and (very modern) LOL. I would've picked something else instead of FAUN (eg: FOUR, FLUB, etc.), but a bit of mythology is perfectly fine.

  Favourite clues:

  • 1A (although I'd seen your post in /r/crosswords, so I already knew the answer - this &lit needs an exclamation mark!), 4D, 9A, and 3D. Very fun!

  Cluing feedback:

  1. The crossword could maybe do with fewer anagram clues. Solvers can be very aware of anagrinds, so it can make solving a bit straight-forward. Try looking for other angles - they're always there if you search for them!
  2. Be careful not to define wordplay components using the same meaning as in the full answer. For example, in 6D, PRINT is defined as "writing", which (effectively) defines FINE PRINT. Better to find a different definition to provide another "in" to the solver (eg: "Excellent media ..."). (See also: DUE in 16D, and using RARE in 19A.)
  3. I would say that the clues are a little too "loose" at times. UK-style cryptics tend to be a bit more lax in this area, but they're mostly accurate in wordplay. For example, (from my understanding) the two parts of 16D's charade are reversed (DUE + OVER), and the wordplay order in 22A is a little confusing.
  4. Again, this is a stylistic thing that differs from setter to setter, but try limiting extraneous words in clues. For example, you can remove both "grow" from 12A and "by" from 17A without losing the surface. It's tricky to balance readability and solvability, but a good test is if you can clearly identify every word in a clue as 'definition' or 'wordplay', it will help solvers parse the clue. See here for exceptions: https://www.crosswordunclued.com/2009/07/connectors.html

  Hope that's all understandable and not too overwhelming. Writing cryptic crosswords is a daunting task, and you've made an excellent start!

  18D!

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  • Probably Apocryphal constructor · 2022-02-24T01:15:12.836Z

    Thanks for the feedback! I do appreciate it. It's hard to look objectively at your own clues, especially after a few hours of wracking your brain.

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