New York Times, Saturday, July 6, 2019

I wouldn't submit this puzzle today. As a constructor it was satisfying to be able to fill that wide-open space in the middle, but as a solver I'd prefer a themeless that's packed with fascinating answers and/or clever clues at every turn (like this recent Caitlin Reid masterpiece - so jealous) over an architectural feat held together by less interesting stuff like 32-Across and 18-Down, and, worse, too many names. (I'm hardly anti-name, and I was excited to highlight 33-Across*, but everything in moderation.)

Hope you enjoyed it anyway, and thanks as always to the NYT team for having me!

*although the clue is a textbook example of how, in contrast to men being clued by their work/accomplishments (see 32-Down), women in crosswords are often contextualized by their relationships to men

Jim and I both dropped in PABLO CASALS without a single crossing answer — a rare instance where his knowledge base and mine overlapped. (I played cello for 20 years, Jim is a concert pianist and music arranger.) Good thing PABLO CASALS was a gimme, too, as I'm not sure I would have broken into the middle without him. DECLARATORY, DARLENE LOVE, INA CLAIRE, TIMBERLANDS all sound familiar when I type them now. Not so much when I solved.

I'm likely too old for some of these. Or too young.

Surprising to see POOP EMOJI. I find these disgusting, probably because I'm still in the thick of diapers. (My son's, not my own. Not yet.) With ASSHAT making its debut a few weeks ago, it'll be interesting to see what's the first edgy entry that creates backlash and helps Will draw the new line.

A few months ago, a friend emailed me that LATINX would be a great debut entry. I hadn't heard the term, but I enjoyed learning about it (a gender-neutral term for a person of Latin American descent). I'm not sure I would have finished the SE corner if I hadn't had that experience. AXILLA and SEXTON also fall into the categories of "things I learned from crosswords." That's not a bad thing, but it does make for an insidery feel, a secret handshake among Masons.

Gigantic swaths of white space like today's middle are some of the most daunting challenges in the entire crossworld. Five long answers stair-stacked atop each other, with six more long entries running through them? It's a beautiful result for the level of difficulty — a couple of marquee answers balancing the ones that didn't shine as well. Great craftsmanship there.

Such a tough solving experience; an intense workout that feels great to have completed. There weren't a lot of entries that played to a broad audience; an interesting mix of material that will elate one subset of solvers, and potentially alienate others.

As if I didn't admire Erik enough already. He's easily in my list of top ten favorite puzzlemakers, and the reflection and learning shown in his commentary makes him shine even brighter. I wish all constructors exhibited his constant drive to improve, no matter how good you already are.