What is a Cruciverbalist?

People spend time solving crossword puzzles because it’s fun, challenging and keep one’s mind active. It also gives someone the pleasure to solve a problem since human by nature are problem solvers. Everyone across America is hunched over their crossword puzzles with a cup of coffee. This game is a great brain exercise that entertains and gives facts to crossword aficionados.

Being a cruciverbalist requires skills, wide vocabulary, and enough knowledge about different genre and can create appropriate clues. Some people are making money for being a cruciverbalists since crosswords are still popular on newspaper, books and online. There is still a good demand for crosswords and a great opportunity to people who have the skills to become a compiler.

Famous Cruciverbalist

Here are some well-known and successful people who make a living on doing crossword puzzles.

Arthur Wynne Crossword Inventor

Arthur Wynne was a Liverpool journalist and invented the first crossword puzzle. It was published in The New York World on December 21, 1913, Sunday. His crossword puzzle was first called as word-cross and was designed as a diamond shape. His fist crossword book was published by Lincoln Schuster and Dick Simon. Wynne was an immigrant from England at the age of 19. He worked for the Pittsburgh Press newspaper and moved to The New York World.

Merl Reagle

Merl Reagle is an American compiler and known for his Sunday crossword puzzles with humorous themes. His puzzles are being published in numerous Sunday newspapers such as San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, Washington Post, New York Observer, Hartford Courant, Arizona Daily Star and The Plain Dealer. He also makes crossword puzzles every year for American Crossword Puzzle Tournament and attends as a commentator and a tournament judge.

Patrick Berry

Patrick Berry recognized as the Tiger Woods in the world of crossword puzzles. His masterpieces are being published on New York Times on Fridays and Saturdays, The Game Magazine, New York Sun and Wall Street Journal. He has also published a book called “ Crossword Puzzle Challenges for Dummies.”

Elizabeth Gorski

Elizabeth Gorski is famous for her entertaining and creative grids. She regularly contributes puzzles to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Los Angeles Times. She is also the inventor of “Connect the Dots” that was published on December 2003 in The New York Times. Gorski was awarded as the “Constructor of the Year” in 2013. She is also handling “Crossword Nation” and serves as the Managing Editor.

Michael Shenk

Michael Shenk is a versatile puzzle compiler. He is also the crossword editor of The Wall Street Journal. Shenk contributed puzzles to the prestigious publications like The New York Times, Games and The New Yorker. He also writes Java programs and founder of Puzzability, a puzzle writing company together with Robert Leighton and Amy Goldstein.

Will Shortz

Will Shortz is known as “The Puzzle Master.” He began his career as a cruciverbalist when he was a teenager. He has earned his degree in Enigmatology, the study of puzzles in Indiana University on 1974. Now, he is the crossword puzzle editor of the New York Times. He has also founded the World Puzzle Championship in 1985 while in 1999 co-founded the World Puzzle Federation.

Being a cruciverbalist needs a lot of work but it will give someone great satisfaction. These compilers have help lots of people to stimulate their problem solving skills, improve their focus and attention, enhanced their vocabulary and prevent Alzheimer Disease. Adding crosswords to your daily routine is a good choice to keep your brain active.