About the Setter
David Stickley has been writing crosswords professionally since 1995. His cryptic puzzle, The Stickler, reached number 4786 before being axed in July 2013 due to cutbacks. In 2024 David and his wife Linda secured a weekly cryptic and quick slot in The SMH and The Age. David has also been published in the NYT, the UK's FT and Church Times.-
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Author Archives: David Stickley
The Stickler Weekly 126 Overseas Help
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Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler
Tagged crosswords, cryptic, stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 125 Solution
Deception is what we setters like to use as often as possible in a cryptic crossword. You might think that’s necessary in EVERY clue, but truthfully, to experienced solvers most clues may not be deceptive at all. A setter goes … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Solutions, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, solution, The Stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 125
The Stickler for this week is now available. Please select your preferred solving format. The solution to this puzzle will appear next week. Clue Hints for The Stickler Weekly 125 Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 125 Solution … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, online, printable, The Stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 125 Clue Hints
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Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler
Tagged clue hints, crosswords, cryptic, stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 125 Overseas Help
If you need help, Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler
Tagged crosswords, cryptic, stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 124 Solution
Writing clues over a long period has pluses and negatives. On the plus side, a mental formula develops that helps get to a reasonable clue in the most efficient way. Basically, you get better at writing them the more you … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Solutions, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, solution, The Stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 124
The Stickler for this week is now available. Please select your preferred solving format. The solution to this puzzle will appear next week. Clue Hints for The Stickler Weekly 124 Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 124 Solution … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, online, printable, The Stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 124 Clue Hints
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Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler
Tagged clue hints, crosswords, cryptic, stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 124 Overseas Help
If you need help, Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler
Tagged crosswords, cryptic, stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 123 Solution
Doing my usual cryptic crossword search recently unearthed a keynote speech by Dr Alan Finkel, Australia’s chief scientist, a government position of some note. I was intrigued and excited and scanned through looking for the cryptic reference. When I found … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Solutions, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, solution, The Stickler
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