Rena Cohen makes her New York Times Crossword debut, and that’s the truth.
Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky Clues
THURSDAY PUZZLE — One of the benefits of writing Wordplay columns is the opportunity to get to know how certain constructors’ and editors’ brains work. Once I have worked a few crosswords by a particular constructor, I can solve fairly quickly, because it’s easy to predict where the puzzle is going: Even though the grids and themes are all different, every constructor has a recognizable voice and style. Being able to race through a puzzle with this familiarity is a great ego booster.
Then a new constructor comes along and I feel like a beginner again. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I hope I maintain the ability to look at the world through a beginner’s eyes, because that state of mind is how I learn the most.
Rena Cohen is a freshman at Washington University in St. Louis, and she was a member of the third Diverse Crossword Constructor Fellowship.
”She picked things up really quickly,” Christina Iverson, one of the puzzle editors who mentored Ms. Cohen, said. “She has a lot of ideas, and is clearly very passionate about puzzles.”
Today’s puzzle is her debut, and I offer her kudos, because she stumped me until I entered my last answer. I thought I understood the theme until I realized that I didn’t.
Therefore, I am proud to bestow upon Ms. Cohen’s puzzle the 2024 “Ohh, That’s What She Meant!” Wordplay award.
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Source: Elections - nytimes.com
