Puzzles and games are a respite from daily stresses, which everyone deserves and in fact needs. But that doesn’t mean that their makers exist outside politics, or should be exempt from political responsibility. Saying nothing is a political choice — a conservative one, in fact.

Allies in all this

You will be delighted to know that there is an annual crossword puzzle awards event, happening this year on 2/23. Details are below (I'll be a presenter!), along with info about how to receive the nominated puzzles in advance - namely, by donating to the Trevor Project, which we should all do anyway

A lot of good ways to show support here: www.standwithminnesota.com

Attention crossword constructors: FUCKICE (7)

I just completed my first ever @avcx.bsky.social cryptic with no hints (and on examination one error). It was from 08-31-2023 Rebecca Bridge edited by @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social I'm feeling pretty smart right now.

Pleased to report that Will Shortz liked Marty Supreme.

One of the best things about open submission season is revising puzzles with constructors. Often, we accept work provisionally, asking for edits to make the work its best self. Constructors are almost always open to it (which is appreciated!) and we love the mutual revision process.

Submissions to AVCX Classic are now closed for the December-January cycle — alas, we have to shut it down when we get to a certain number, since we only publish once a week. We reopen in May, and look forward to seeing your pitches then!

Submissions to AVCX Classic are now closed for the December-January cycle — alas, we have to shut it down when we get to a certain number, since we only publish once a week. We reopen in May, and look forward to seeing your pitches then!

We got a record 455 submissions (mostly correct) for @francisheaney.bsky.social ‘s December 25 meta contest. Winners will be announced and meta solution will go out with tonight’s puzzle … which happens to be a PDF-only doozy by Mike Schlossberg. Don’t miss any of it. Avxwords.com

Hello to a lot of new followers: we’re an independent media concern in that we make puzzles and games outside of a corporate context. Try us! Avxwords.com

i’ve done “tweedy outfit?” for wilco

I am almost (but not quite) too old to get this. (Although tbh my first response was “yeah you do see a lot of GEESE in winter but you also see them other seasons, so…” 🫤) 🎶 🪿 🪿 🎶

Try a challenging Defector crossword: defector.com/the-crosswor...

Crossword clue free to a good home: “Winter outfit?” for GEESE

New Classic puzzle from Karen Lurie and Peter Gwinn drops tonight. Today is also the one day each year when we ask for tips! If you are able to support us with a tip, our gratitude would be hard to overstate! avxwords.com/tip-jar/

New Classic puzzle from Karen Lurie and Peter Gwinn drops tonight. Today is also the one day each year when we ask for tips! If you are able to support us with a tip, our gratitude would be hard to overstate! avxwords.com/tip-jar/

People ask us about an AVCX print crossword book but maybe we should just make a zine?

AVCX Classic submissions are open for the December-January cycle! We would love to see your stuff, and we aim for a quick turnaround time and supportive replies with real feedback. See our spec sheet here: avxwords.com/submit-a-puz...

AVCX Classic submissions are open for the December-January cycle! We would love to see your stuff, and we aim for a quick turnaround time and supportive replies with real feedback. See our spec sheet here: avxwords.com/submit-a-puz...

Indie crossword service AVCX has an exciting offer this holiday season! Subscribe, then claim your free meta mini pack by sending an email to [email protected]. Submit the meta solution to win a free copy of @natanlast.bsky.social's book "Across the Universe." avxwords.com

I'm very excited about the excellent puzzles we've got lined up for Issue 2, coming out in January. Setters this time will be: ALP Gennaro Catnip The Void Heron Ruskin Umpire Crenditi Bard Henri That's 8 standard cryptics, an alphabetical jigsaw, and a barred thematic. Fun! unchcrosswords.com

Thanks to all our solvers/supporters for keeping us afloat. We subsist each year mainly from what we make in Nov/Dec, when I guess people are feeling the most crosswordy. If you subscribe now, or buy a gift sub, you help us a ton. And you get a free meta mini pack! So come on aboard: Avxwords.com

I fEEL this might be useful for crossword constructors/solvers

Working on the @avcx.bsky.social variety puzzle in between pies & my 5yo keeps asking “can I help? Can I help?” Finally had to explain to her that knowing how to read and spell are prerequisites. Love that energy, though!

If you do, you’ll get a free copy of this mini meta pack I helped put together, with a bunch of my friends who are doing amazing work. Puzzles are an art; art dies if left unnourished by human patronage. I know that sounds serious, but the people who care about the art take it that seriously.

I know nearly everyone who follows me is already subscribed, but— There‘s a reason why my puzzle work these days is almost exclusively with AVCX. We all know someone in our lives who does mainstream puzzles, but doesn’t know that indies exist or how good they are. If you can, gift them an AVCX sub.

I love @avcx.bsky.social crosswords and have gotten so much joy out of my subscription

AVCX is one of my all-time favorite subscriptions. If you're a fan of crosswords of any type (especially my beloved favorite: cryptics), you should join their membership. You get fantastic puzzles and support a wonderful team of constructors, editors, and solvers alike.

The mini meta contest will be announced in today’s Classic email. Submit the solution to be entered in a drawing to win a copy of @natanlast.bsky.social ‘s new crossword history book, Across the Universe. Instructions for getting the pack below!

Today's puzzle is an 11x11 by roster member Ben Wilson (@zerofiftyone.bsky.social), titled "A Lot to Unpack." In this fun, breezy puzzle, Ben once again wows us with his ability to connect an amazing number of unrelated entries together through clever cluing angles.

Did I just solve the latest @avcx.bsky.social variety puzzle purely on the strength of my 80s music knowledge? I sure did 😂

I loved it too! (Finished it in one evening, felt nice and smug.)

A simply huge sickos-yes to the instructions for the new variety puzzle from @avcx.bsky.social (started it last night and loved it, still a long way to go)

Here’s the deal! Subscribe, renew, or buy a gift subscription from avxwords.com from now thru the end of the year, and get a new meta mini pack, free. After subscribing, send a blank email to [email protected] with “mini meta” in the subject line, and we’ll send you the pack. Honor system!

AVCX is great! They put out a really fun variety puzzle last night that was perfect to do during a middle-of-the-night baby feed. It was also my first time solving a pdf in the books app, which worked surprisingly well.

Solving, constructing for, and editing for @avcx.bsky.social has been one of the greatest joys of my puzzling life. If you’re looking for a great gift that supports independent media, check out this fantastic subscription - minis, full-size crosswords, cryptics, and trivia to your inbox weekly.

Here’s the deal! Subscribe, renew, or buy a gift subscription from avxwords.com from now thru the end of the year, and get a new meta mini pack, free. After subscribing, send a blank email to [email protected] with “mini meta” in the subject line, and we’ll send you the pack. Honor system!

Announcement: We’re putting the finishing touches on a new meta mini pack! It’s co-constructed by various AVCX people, and it’s a bonus related to our subscription drive. More to come very soon, including details on how you can get your copy …

Announcement: We’re putting the finishing touches on a new meta mini pack! It’s co-constructed by various AVCX people, and it’s a bonus related to our subscription drive. More to come very soon, including details on how you can get your copy …

live now doing lotsa stuff including puzzles from @amandarafkin.bsky.social (atlantic) and @sarathegood.bsky.social ed. by @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social ( @avcx.bsky.social ) www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv

Slander involving debut of Saint Nicholas, say (4) In our latest Out of Left Field cryptic crossword, sent to subscribers this morning, @hpicciotto.bsky.social and I prep for Christmas by talking smack about this guy. www.patreon.com/posts/puzzle...

New avcx Classic xword rolling out tonight from Karen Lurie, titled “Double Elimination.” In the email, we plug the New York Groove, an indie journalism site we just learned about, and which shares our ethos. Always great to connect with other independent outlets. nygroove.nyc

AI nailing it as always

New avcx Classic xword rolling out tonight from Karen Lurie, titled “Double Elimination.” In the email, we plug the New York Groove, an indie journalism site we just learned about, and which shares our ethos. Always great to connect with other independent outlets. nygroove.nyc

If you’re looking for a variety of millennial-coded crosswords that don’t mess around with cutesy clues for fascists, arrive frequently, can be played online or printed on paper, are reasonably priced, and have a great response, I strongly recommend @avcx.bsky.social

Having a puzzle at Defector is definitely up there with the coolest things I've ever done. They rock!

Infinite thanks to our buddies at @defector.com (@maitreyiaa.bsky.social and Hoang-Kim Vu, xwords editors, among them) … for the kind AVCX shout out today. They’re helping plug our fall subscription drive and we appreciate it. Their puzzles slap too. defector.com/the-crosswor...