The Return of the TFTT Christmas Turkey – So, Who Wants Stuffing?

Author   JerryWPosted on Categories Announcement
UPDATE 4 DECEMBER: All clues have now been distributed, and we have more than sufficient for the Subs Bench, so I’m afraid there are no more clue-setting opportunities now. When the solution and blog are published we will review matters and see if a way can be found to match supply with demand.. we could set a jumbo.. we could do a quick cryptic as well as an ordinary cryptic.. we could give the same word to more than one setter, and pick the clue felt to be best.. or what else? Give it some thought, and come up with suggestions that (ideally) will not involve too much more work for the organisers!

The crossword will be issued for solving on Monday 15 December. I hope we can all contain our excitement that long..

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Yes, it’s that time of year again, when TFTT contributors get together to demonstrate just how difficult good crossword setting really is. We will produce our own crossword, and find out if we can take it as well as we dish it out. Plaudits, I mean, of course… this year the Xmas Turkey feast is being served up by two celebrity (?) chefs, Sotira and JerryWh, and we are looking to you to supply us with the ingredients… so please read on.

Livejournal did not distinguish itself last year, so this year all communication will be via email. If you would like to contribute, please send an email to: [removed now!] … and a clue will be returned to you, either by Sotira or myself. Note that it isn’t the precise email address, you will have to alter it just a little before it will work.. I’m sure you can see what I mean.

As last year, a crossword has been created using a standard Times Cryptic 15×15 grid with 32 clues. Of these, about half have checked letters that allow for more than one possible answer. If you would like the added thrill of choosing which word to use as well as inventing a clue for it, say so in your email and we will supply one if there are any left. Also please say in your email if you are able to take a second word to clue, and if there are any left over we will distribute them.

In summary:

– if you would like to take part, please email sotira AT Vivaldi DOT net as soon as possible

– if you want a clue with more than one possible word, say so

– say if you are available to take a second word (if needed)

Once you have got your word, you will have a week or so to produce the clue. The crossword will be published on Wednesday 17th December and our special guest celebrity blogger will publish their blog on Sunday 21st December.

Comments are open for this post, but please use the email address provided to communicate with us about the cluing, ie not via comments or by LJ messaging.

Golly, is this exciting, or what? Get emailing!

 

Author: JerryW

I love The Times crosswords..

6 comments on “The Return of the TFTT Christmas Turkey – So, Who Wants Stuffing?”

  1. Well done, folks! Just to record that I have emailed sotira as requested so I hope I have a foot firmly in the door.
  3. Feet firmly in door.

    As of 8pm Monday evening, we’re only about half full so plenty of volunteers still needed.

    Thanks, all.

    UPDATE

    As of 5pm on Tue 2nd we have as many volunteers as clues. Sorry if you didn’t see this announcement in time. Do drop me a line if you want to be on the subs’ bench – we needed a few subs last year for various reasons.

    Clues will be parcelled out as soon. Jerry will be doing the Down clues, I’ll be doing the Acrosses. You’l be hearing from one or other of us as soon as we’ve got the allocation sorted out.

    Thank you for a great response.

    By the way, last year’s puzzle did top 1,000 unique visitors in the end. Whether they all solved it or not I don’t know.

    Edited at 2014-12-02 05:25 pm (UTC)

    1. I’m so sorry, Janie, especially as you were among the most enthusiastic contributors last year and a great ambassador for the Turkey. We did try to trail the announcement a bit last week but perhaps didn’t do it clearly enough.

      If anyone should run into setter’s block or suffer a setting-related injury, you’ll be the first one we contact.

  5. Jerry – a Jumbo or a Quickie is a great idea but I think a jumbo might involve far too much work for the editors. Was there once an Anax Christmas special which was smaller than a full jumbo but larger than 15×15 which might be a good size? For amateurs I do think it’s very hard to produce a good clue that’s also enjoyably difficult so it might be a problem to differentiate the quickie from the main puzzle. I seem to have no trouble composing easy clues…. Food for thought.

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