MEET OUR PUZZLE MASTERS

YOU’s crossword gurus reveal the tricks they use to conjure up addictive brainteasers that will keep readers guessing

- CHARLEA SIEBERHAGEN-GREY

AN ESCAPE from loneliness, an antidote to the brain-numbing boredom of lockdown, a deeply satisfying and pleasurable way to while away the hours . . . There are many reasons to be a fan of YOU crosswords, and readers love nothing more than applying their minds to solving the puzzles that have become a hallmark of our printed titles.

Equally passionate about puzzles are the people who put it all together.

YOU has various compilers and they’re more than happy to take readers behind the scenes of their fascinating worlds.

“I started working on crosswords in 2011 with the first YOU Blockbusters magazine and we were super-nervous – so many words,” says Natalie Cavernelis, YOU’s puzzle magazines production editor. “But I loved it. Only in this job would I learn ‘emmet’ and ‘pismire’ are other words to describe an ant!

“I have a file on my phone where I note cool words I want to add to a crossword or ideas for a new word-search theme,” the mom-of-one from Bellville in Cape Town says. “Just yesterday I added the words ‘compunction’ and ‘lugubrious’ after seeing one in a book and hearing the other on TV. I love how they sound.”

Crossword compilers typically use software programs to create the various types. “It takes anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours to edit or compile a puzzle and either write or check the clues,” Natalie says.

“A small word search can be put together quickly but thinking up hundreds of new topics and enough words for the word-search topics can take time.”