New York Times, Thursday, February 7, 2019

I started this puzzle simply thinking about breaking the constraints of the 15x15 grid and looking for expressions that would motivate doing that. OUTSIDE THE BOX was an obvious possibility, but I couldn't figure out where to take it. OVER THE EDGE was also obvious, and I considered using expressions with OVER dangling over the edge. It was simple enough finding possibilities ending in OVER that don't carry the meaning of OVER — e.g., FOUR-LEAF CLOVER — but the same isn't true for expressions that start with OVER. So I dropped the idea and let it simmer in the background. Then, one day during my walk to the gym, when I was mulling over OVER THE EDGE, I had an aha moment — actually more like a forehead-slapping duh moment: I could use GOES OVER THE EDGE to motivate words and expressions that begin or end with GO hanging over the edge.

Of course, there isn't necessarily a direct route from an idea to seeing one's puzzle in print. My first submission included GOES OVER THE EDGE as the reveal, which I liked, because it has 15 letters and captures the idea that there is more than one GO over the edge. But Will saw it differently and thought GO OVER THE EDGE would be "much more elegant." Although I didn't fully agree, I wasn't in a position to argue with "much more elegant," so I completely redid the puzzle, resubmitted it, tweaked it a bit more, and finally hit the mark.

I hope the puzzle doesn't send anyone over any edges, other than ones in the 15 x 15 grid.

Darn it, Morton stole my punchline!

It's been a while since we've had a "letters outside the grid" theme. I appreciate that Will spaces them out for bigger impact.

I had a dickens of a time even finishing the puzzle, as the random GO positions made it so tricky. I usually love tricksiness, but wow, was this the uber-tricksiest. Several themers gave a great payoff — CHICA(GO), TAKES TWO TO TAN(GO), (GO)SLINGS in particular. But as a whole, I was left with a feel of inelegance.

Why? Some themers formed regular words/entries without GO, like (GO)SLINGS. Some didn't, like AGESA(GO). GOODNIGHT IRENE didn't resonate with me, not nearly as much as CARMEN SANDIEGO. And why eight GOs? Why some in long answers, some in shorties?

I know, I overthink things way too much. But it is what it is.

This would have been POW! material for me if the grid had looked innocent, all full of themers like SLINGS and CHICA. As it was, it felt a bit haphazard.

Still, a great mental workout, trying my darnedest to remember where those GOs were. Probably will play much more strongly to paper solvers who don't need a square in which to type GO. Kind of nice when a puzzle comes along that makes you appreciate pencil and paper!