Australian Crosswords

It’s normal for new setters to mimic elements of the crosswords they solve the most, especially those crosswords appearing in major newspapers. They assume this is an acceptable approach as major publications would have style guides, editors, checkers etc to ensure a high standard of work. It’s a fair place to start, but over time setters must come to their own conclusions about what should and should not be used, and not necessarily accept that “because it’s published it must be Ok”. It’s really easy to accept crosswordese (regularly-used crossword elements that outsiders would find hard to understand) as without it setters have less to work with, however, I think it’s important to think through everything you sign your name to as a setter.
Early on I was happy to use anagram indicators like “perhaps” and “possibly” without thinking: I’d seen them used 100s of times and come to accept their roles in clues. However, during cryptic crossword solving classes at my local community college, I was asked how “perhaps” could be seen as an anagram indicator. I had no answer except to say that a lot is implied and solvers knew what it meant when they saw it. Such things frighten new/learning solvers (“what other secret codes do I have to learn?”) as they can’t necessarily rely on a description of an anagram that says “any word or phrase that suggests a rearrangement (of letters)”. The upshot? While I have used them in extreme circumstances, I no longer have them on my anagram list. “out” is out for another reason: you can find a dictionary definition that could make it an anagram indicator, but the average person has trouble thinking of it that way.
Should I reinforce the exclusive nature of cryptic solving by using such devices, potentially locking out new blood? I say no.

Recently I asked if people could spot what I DON’T DO in my crosswords. (My list covers the whole cryptic crossword spectrum, including the entire crossword, grid, types of clues and devices.) One poster suggested that I didn’t seem to use clue cross-referencing, and too some extent that’s true. As with all things regarding my crosswords, I have carefully considered my use of clue cross-referencing.
I don’t set out to create 15×15 regularly-published crosswords with a theme that would involve many clues carrying references to other clues. Why? I don’t like solving that style of crossword myself. If I pick up such a crossword to solve (even by a setter I like) and see heavy cross-referencing, I won’t even start it. (A particular dislike is a clue that refers to another clue that in turn refers to another.) However my regular crosswords may contain either an overt or covert cross-reference if the opportunity arises during the clueing phase – I don’t set out to make it happen.
I have done larger holiday puzzles with themes and those have contained cross-referencing. Larger puzzles can swallow a theme more easily and any cross-referencing doesn’t tend to dominate the overall look of the puzzles. When I do this, I tend to only use one answer in the cross-referencing so the solver doesn’t have keep flitting around the crossword. I have one other “rule” when using cross-referencing: any clue that uses it must still have good surface reading when the answer from referenced clue is substituted in.

A setter is said to have a “style”. What is this and how does it develop? A setter’s style is simply their way of doing things, and usually it starts out as a version of the styles present in a setter’s favourite crosswords. This concept is simple to understand as a budding setter interprets what they see when solving and sets about employing the same toolset.
It’s important that the learning doesn’t stop there as it’s hard to build a house just by living in one: a builder must learn the fundamentals of building to ensure a solid structure and to know where it’s possible to add extensions.
A style is developed as a setter comes to understand more about the different aspects of clues and formulates their own crossword philosophy, which will include certain devices/ideas and exclude others. Typically a setter won’t use devices they don’t like to see in other crosswords, even if they seem generally accepted by solvers and well-established through crossword tradition. Of course, any removal of tools will make clueing harder, so some setters may be reluctant to employ anything less than the full set.
My style changed greatly in the early years as I studied cryptic crosswords through solving, reading crossword books by great setters, and taking the time to listen to feedback from the solvers of my crosswords. It’s pointless arguing with solvers about things they don’t like: the puzzle is written for them and should suit them. Justifying an answer without serious consideration of the solver’s view is a mistake – a change may be necessary, a refinement of style.
It’s hard to see what’s not there: can anyone identify the things I don’t use or don’t do in my crosswords?