Does a setter need a manifesto, especially if the publish themselves? I found myself asking this question after Gaufrid from fifteensquared gave me some great feedback on Futean-002, both in terms of the theme and the clues.
Some questions over the clues were expected – and although the excuse that I prefer the less Ximenean setters carries a little weight, my low milage so far on the setter’s learning curve will carry much more. Theme-wise though, it raised an interesting question which has been raised many times recently (in the Guardian, anyway) and flips it. Whilst there have been questions raised on using terms and references which a younger solver wouldn’t have a hope of knowing, the question of whether it’s sometimes acceptable to include references an older solver might struggle with is a tricky one.
Modern literature shouldn’t be too much of a problem (readers don’t generally stop reading as they get older) but with popular music most people have an era which they know intimately and then a drop off – that point at which record collecting is as much about filling the gaps from days past than buying the sound of the new youth. Rock and electronic music were such an enormous part of my cultural upbringing that it’s where I naturally go to for ideas – likewise I’ve never been a sports fan, and the chances of a cricket reference in one of my puzzles are nigh on zero, let alone references to sports people which are often cause for me to discard a cryptic unfinished. Is this right, though – do the expectations solvers place on content actually outweigh the expectations they place on clue-style and Ximenean precision?
Who knows indeed – the best way to learn is from feedback, so let me know what you think! In the meantime, here’s a mini-manifesto to give you an idea of whether you’ll enjoy a futean crossword!
- I’m not a Ximenean, but will try to be good and fair at all times!
- I deliberately break the big X’s rules when a possible clue gives me a great big grin, there’s a good ‘&lit’ clue that won’t work otherwise, and so forth
- I accidentally break rules due to inexperience…whether I pretend it ‘s on purpose will depend on the clue!
- There will likely be references to classic rock or pop music in many puzzles from the mid-Sixties up to the millenium
- Literary references are just as likely to be modern, though the convention of assuming a greater knowledge of Shakespeare than, say, Pynchon will be assumed – after all, every Shakespearean character quickly gives up his or her identity to the call of Google
- I’ll check that esoteric references are likely to be Google-solvable if required, though I may keep it a little sneaky where I can
- Pretty much no sport unless the grid dictates it. Though in that case cricket will probably be a grassy chirper rather than a batty pursuit!
That might all over-egg the pudding, but hopefully it’ll give you more of an idea if you’re wondering whether to try one of the puzzles!
The next one (on the way still) has a theme that’s a little more vintage that 002! Enjoy.
