New York Times, Thursday, August 23, 2018

I thought that CROP ROTATION would make a good revealer for a puzzle with answers going in multiple directions, and decided to use rebus squares for the ‘crops' so that both answers passing through the rebus square could ‘rotate'.

Grid design was of paramount importance. In fact, unlike the typical construction process, here I worked out the basic grid design first and then selected theme entries. I wanted the longest puzzle slots (not including the revealer) to contain rebus squares, while preserving good flow through the grid. After much trial and error, I finally hit on the pattern of long Acrosses in rows 4 and 12 (fixed by the 12-letter revealer) and long Downs in columns 3 and 13, which gave me a great deal of flexibility in black square placement. I breathed a sigh of relief when I confirmed that I could cross CROP ROTATION and STO{RY E}DITOR at the I, and DUCHESS OF {CORN}WALL and ELECT{RIC E}ELS at the C.

A fun etymology fact I learned during construction is that the place name ‘Cornwall' has nothing to do with maize or any other food: the 'corn' in the name derives from an ancient Celtic word meaning ‘headland'.

I've had a few people tell me that I overly criticize rebus puzzles. It's true, I do. So many rebuses have been done over the years that a standard one feels uncreative and sometimes even lazy. So it's a real pleasure when I experience something new(ish) in the rebus arena, like today's CROP ROTATION idea. I enjoyed the combination of rebus + turning, with an apt revealer.

Such a tough puzzle, so hard to figure out what was going on, especially at the STO(RY E)DITOR / BETTE(R YE)T intersection. But working that hard to figure the tricksiness out made the a-ha moment super satisfying.

This is what I want out of a Thursday puzzle — the payoff to be worth the struggle.

Such strong clues, too:

ELECT(RIC E)ELS are indeed stunning, both figuratively and literally!

SCABS' work is indeed "strikingly" controversial. (groan)

Going hog wild on a Hog (slang for a Harley) is indeed what a BIKER does.

I would have loved one more CROP included, but I appreciated how snazzy and clean Kyle's grid was. I'd much prefer this end result than a puzzle with a fourth crop plus a whole lot of gloppy crossword glue.

Took me much longer than an average Thursday, but it was well worth the effort.