New York Times, Thursday, September 24, 2020

The germ idea of this puzzle dates back to 2016 when I first started constructing. My original puzzle lacked the homophone element, so it had clues like [M, e.g.] and equally contrived answers like ACTRESS RYAN. I didn't have a great revealer, either, so while I thought the concept had potential, I didn't feel like it came together well enough to be worth submitting.

Over two years later, I came up with the version of the theme you see today, made a draft, and sent it off to Will and company. It was rejected because my clue for 18-Across, [Cay, e.g.] didn't work for them, as some people pronounce "cay" like "key." I had never heard this pronunciation, but as it seemed like they otherwise liked the concept, I suggested [Kay, e.g.] as an alternative. The change was approved, and that's how I turned a rejection into an acceptance by changing one letter of one clue!

I'm pleased with how this grid turned out, with the stacks of long answers in the upper-right and lower-left corners, and some other nice entries like INK SAC, BAD VIBE, and TRUST ME. My favorite clues include 15-Across, 11-Down, 16-Down (a slightly altered version of a previously used clue that I thought was wonderfully devious), 37-Down, and 58-Down. I'm also glad that my clues for 2-Down and 3-Down both survived, as it's fun to have back-to-back clues that echo each other when the opportunity presents itself, and I thought this pairing was particularly amusing.

I enjoy puzzles that play with crossword conventions both as a constructor and solver, so I hope you have a good time with this one. Happy solving!

I was so confused, looking at [Bee, e.g.] for one themer clue, and seeing BEER BARREL elsewhere in the grid. Surely there was some cross-referencing going on?

No, wait! DEE is in the grid … as is EMME! EMME = M = [M, e.g.] = one of the LITTLE WOMEN?

Easy as ABC, my patootie.

I've seen some plays on crossword cluing conventions before — two that come to mind are 1.)[See X-Across] = phrases secretly pointing at words like SEE(PING), where X-Across is PING, and 2.) [With "The" …] = phrases starting with THE, like (THE)LMA AND LOUISE — but I don't remember exactly this one.

Kay, e.g. = K, e.g. = Keg = BEER BARREL. There's something amusingly insidery about this notion, crossword people not blinking an eye at words like ESS, WYE, and even AITCH. I'm not sure regular folks would find it as amusing. But what do they know, A? Er, eh?

I appreciate that Trenton used colorful phrases, never digging into the well of dictionary-sounding definitions. For instance, he could have used [Em, e.g.] with the entry ONE OF THE LITTLE WOMEN, but no one wants to see drab definitions in their crossword grid. El, e.g. = [SOFA SUPPORT]? El no!

I enjoyed the themeless-esque feel of the solve, Trenton's vast experience in that genre shining through. With five themers, including an awkward central 13, he could have called it good with maybe a pair of long downs. Such a bonus to get ANTIDOTE, SORCERER, COMPADRE, GAL PAL.

I did hitch on the LEN / TANEY crossing — should we be expected to know how to spell every Chief Justice's name? I do think this is fair, though, since what else might look more correct? LON / TANOY perhaps, but that's a far second. LIN could work, but TANIY seems ridiculous.

Novel twist on the "plays on crossword conventions" theme type. It didn't generate a strong a-ha moment, but I enjoyed the oddball multi-step process it required, transforming a spelled out letter to a single letter, then adding on E and G.