Cassowary Crossing

11 Responses to “Cha-Cha-Champs”

1. Mr X Says:
   July 26th, 2010 at 1:43 pm

   Have to agree that this Brainstorm was full of brilliant efforts. Off the top of my head, in addition to those listed, I remember being mightily impressed by DG’s (or dg’s) one-word anagrammatical efforts of rockmelon and Maryland

2. dg Says:
   July 26th, 2010 at 3:45 pm

   Thanx Mr X. There were plenty of outstanding clues that didnt reach the podium (certainly including some of yours: e.g. schoolsign, the 10s and half 9).

   DA, this Brainstorm was like a writers’ workshop. It meant rather than just grabbing an idea for a clue and marrying it for life one – surely not just me – had to consider all angles and sometimes see the original spark may not be the most dazzling.

   If there were a cryptic compiler’s workshop this is a great exercise. (BTW how does someone become a compiler?)

3. DA Says:
   July 26th, 2010 at 7:21 pm

   Appreciate the feedback, and agree – a classy stoush, and yes, Maryland warrants a fanfare. A superb clue, though the tricky part of CHA-CHA was dazzling in all six.

   True, a good workshop exercise, and not too far removed from the setter’s task. You ‘inherit’ a word in your interlock, and you need to figure out the sleekest approach, taking into account the need for a variety of recipes in your puzzle.

   As for getting your own stuff published – these Storms are are one way to hone your talents, but then there’s the challenge of the wider world.

   As you’d guess, mainstream chances are few, though not impossible with the 3Ps – passion, persistence….and patience. (With talent the other given, as we’ve seen here all week.)

   Practically, if you’re serious about getting your gear out there, I can’t be any more help than goading you to refine 2 or 3 of your Very Best crosswords, and sending them along to a publication’s Puzzle Editor. If there isn’t a puzzle already, maybe offer to provide one, and don’t get too ambitious first off. Rome took a few years to build.

   There’s also the ACC [Australian Crossword Club] that publishes members’ stuff – a good support circle too. Will resume this topic once things move over to the DA website soonish. About two weeks, the way things are moving. Chz DA

4. dg Says:
   July 29th, 2010 at 12:19 am

   My last say on this. Obviously the trusty cryptic clue will resurface in other Storms. (Thankfully, as Id guess few crossed onto this site without a love of the art.) Can I suggest 2 things with at least one future cryptic Storm?

   Firstly the clues should not be next to the answer. This reminds me of the joke (always delivered in one breath): “What’s the most important part of a joke the timing”

   As well as surface reading and wordplay many clues have a teaser or suspense quality. The road more travelled is part of the joy same as following a sports event or story without knowing the result. (And the only way to know how predictable / solvable something was is start without the spoiler. AND on a tangent I never would just choose to read the answer to the previous grid alongside the clues)

   Secondly leaving out the definition feels like mini-golf. It’s all well and good. But every golfer needs to learn how to drive too. Themes and ‘otherwise undefined’ clues can be great. But most clues are defined and if part of the cryptic Storms have a workshop quality then the trainees are being short-changed.

   There could still be themes (say, foods, place names or solutions ending in ‘s’ or containing a double letter). I just feel cryptic crossword cluemanship and appreciation can use these pieces.

   Thoughts everyone?

5. Mr X Says:
   July 29th, 2010 at 10:49 am

   Its true that incorporating the definition is a key part of compiling a good cryptic clue (and I have to admit to throwing them in sometimes even when the challenge didn’t demand it just for the practice or to show off a neat construction). As far as including it in the cryptic-clue-creating Brainstorms, I think it depends on the nature of the challenge. For the theme-type challenge, it’s understandable that DA would want to avoid a massive herd of “reindeer” definitions, an innumerable choir of “muse” variations or an endless archipelago of “Pacific island” iterations. Which is probably why for his themed cryptics (all across clues share a common etc) he doesn’t include the definition in each clue. I’m sure that other challenges will allow us to demonstrate our definition incorporating skills.

6. Mr X Says:
   July 29th, 2010 at 10:57 am

   Re the Clue/answer placement – I’m open to both approaches. Having them together allows a focus on the skill of construction while dg’s preference for splitting them gives us the joy of puzzle solving. It’s like the Brechtian (the suspension of disbelief is replaced by an intellectual appreciation) as opposed to Aristotelian (which seeks emotional engagement and catharsis) approach to drama.

7. DA Says:
   July 29th, 2010 at 8:27 pm

   Aye, that’s the rub, X. If we have a generic group (deer, isles, Muses) then definitions are redundant. Or repetitive, a better word.

   But cha-cha was a break from that pattern. So next time we set up a clue hotshop, should the answers be diverse, I’ll factor in the definition element, as dg has eloquently argued. Promise.

8. SK Says:
   July 30th, 2010 at 9:45 pm

   After years of following DA’s crosswords I only stumbled on this website yesterday (I’m a notoriously slow learner). I love the cha-cha concept and am keen to have a go….sadly I was a week late for this latest challenge. Is this a weekly (or otherwise regular) event? If so I will have a go next time around…assuming you won’t laugh too loudly at my amateur efforts.

9. DA Says:
   July 31st, 2010 at 10:27 am

   Welcome to the nest, SK. And I’m sure your co-cluers won’t be LOL-ing or having a kekeke at your wordplay attempts. We’re a collegial bunch.

   As for the CHA-CHA formula, I may return to something similar soon, as the Storm hit a chord with plenty of players.

   In the meantime, the regular Brainstorm challenge crops up around Tuesday, and always involves some level of verbal shenanigans. Feel free to jump in, if the spirit moves.

10. SK Says:
    July 31st, 2010 at 11:39 am

    Thanks DA. As I read through the entries yesterday I came up with my own (L-plater) idea….so I will toss it in (too late for judging, I know), just to get it off my chest. Constructive criticism more than welcome.

    INK

    Container: Inside Grand Central tunnels
    Homophone: Company reports
    Anagram:Pumpkin (or Beatnik)
    Charade: Popular ruler
    Hidden: Small dose of pain killer
    Anything (removal): Sheds jewelry when visibly tired

11. DA Says:
    August 2nd, 2010 at 6:45 am

    Bumpkin/pumpkin – very nice.

    Only last month I realised that windowpane could lead to weapon. (Think about anagram signpost beside anagram fodder, and you’ll see it.)

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