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Robyn Weintraub: Creating crosswords

Tara Gadomski follows crossword designer Robyn Weintraub over three intense days as she constructs a new puzzle, from blank page to completed grid.

Robyn Weintraub is a leading crossword designer who writes clues and fills in cells for the New York Times, famous for its challenging daily puzzles. She also creates for the New Yorker, People Magazine and the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Robyn is known for her distinct style, and keen readers recognise a 鈥淩obyn Puzzle鈥 from the quotes and sayings she uses as hints.

Tara Gadomski follows Robyn over three intense days as she constructs a new crossword puzzle from blank page to completed grid. We get a glimpse of her long word lists and her daily puzzle-writing routine, and experience Robyn鈥檚 final verification - by pencil and paper - to make sure the puzzle is satisfying for the millions of people who will try to solve it then we discover whether Robyn鈥檚 puzzle has been accepted for publication by the New York Times.

Produced and presented by Tara Gadomski for the 大象传媒 World Service.

(Photo: Robyn Weintraub. Credit: Courtesy of Robyn Weintraub)

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27 minutes

Last on

Tue 5 Sep 2023 22:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Tue 5 Sep 2023 03:32GMT
  • Tue 5 Sep 2023 10:32GMT
  • Tue 5 Sep 2023 17:32GMT
  • Tue 5 Sep 2023 21:32GMT
  • Tue 5 Sep 2023 22:32GMT