How to Create Your Own Crossword Puzzle

Initially, crossword puzzles were hand-made but open the invention of a software program in 1997, crosswords puzzles can be made by an individual on the computer. The easiest way of creating a crossword puzzle, then, would be doing it in a computer.

The first thing to identify when making a crossword puzzle, it is intention. Is the crossword puzzle intended just for personal use? Or is it made for friends and family? Crossword puzzles are also given as gifts, nowadays. The reason for answering these questions, it to make sure that you will be acquiring or purchasing the appropriate software that would cater to these needs.

American crossword puzzles have a set of standards that they need to follow. There are several grid sizes for a crossword puzzle: 13×13, 15×15, 17×17, 19×19, 21×21, and 23×23. The most common crossword size would be 15×15 and is generally accepted as the standard size.

You also need to remember that crossword puzzles are symmetrical. The number of black boxes in the left corner should also be the same with the number of black boxes in the lower right corner. Also, two letter words are not allowed and three letter words should not appear frequently in the puzzle.

Another rule is that unkeyed words or words whose letters are not interlocked with an across and a down word are not allowed. So every letter square should be a part of an across and a down word. Another rule is about word duplication. There are words in an expression should not share with another word used in a puzzle.

If you intend to have the crossword published, then you have to be familiar with the number of black boxes that publishing companies allow to appear in the crossword. With Simon & Schuster, they prefer that about one- sixth of the total number of grid squares in black.

There are publishers who do not declare any specific number. But normal number of black boxes would be about one-sixth. If they see that there are too much black boxes in the puzzle, they may think twice of buying or publishing the puzzle.

There are crossword puzzle makers who draw up a list of theme words or phrases first. Then they would be sorted out according to their length. This practice makes it easier for the crossword makers to think of words and develop questions or hints about the words.

There are also different practices for some crossword makers. Once they have identified the theme and have come up with some long words, they would fill in the grid with the words and then think about the clues afterwards. While there are some who would create the clues first before completing the grid.

In the process of completing the puzzle, there would be times when you would have to encounter weird and unacceptable words. This is perfectly normal. You can use entertaining words to make your crossword witty and fun.

If you have decided to create a crossword puzzle with the help of a software, then there are free crossword puzzle makers which you can try using. There are crossword making software which could be purchased in a lower rate. There are software for making crosswords for publishers.

If you intend to have your crosswords published, then it would be best to avoid using them or publishing them on your own. Avoid using them even in your personal page since they can affect the publisher’s interest. Most publishers would like to buy puzzles where they can have all rights. And also, there are some crosswords who are experiencing trademark problems.

Try to avoid using words with trademark in your crossword puzzles.

May 28, 2009 · Filed Under Crossword Puzzles

Website Building Tools

If you interested in website building for your home business, here are some great tools you might find useful to learn how to earn online, step by step. These are the tools that I use after checking out a lot of tools in the market. Hope it helps you in some ways:

1. Site Sell University

If you aren’t familiar…CHECK IT OUT! If you are… Congratulations!

Site Sell University will offer you a goldmine of information about “pre-selling” your customers and, in my opinion ( and I don’t endorse too many businesses this strongly), they have the best web hosting service on the planet for new startups, complete with mailing list features, newsletter integration, promotional tools… and much more.

I have to be honest with you. When I first came across Site Sell University, I was very excited to try it. A lot of ordinary people were raving about it. I thought if they can do it, I can do it, too.

My excitement fizzled out after a while. The reason being, I wasn’t very focused with my goal. However, after thinking about it and resolving to Take Action, I saw great results. That’s why I’m very very thankful I found Site Sell University and I’m not ashamed to tell the whole world about it. Check out this video to learn about Site Sell University in just 3 minutes.

2. Maverick Money Makers

If you are a novice at making money online, Maverick Money Makers is one site that you might want to check out to learn step by step methods. I’m a member of this private money making society online and I have learned many things from it. It’s a wonderful tool to use whether you want to start a home business on a low budget, medium budget or a high budget.

What’s great about it is that it has tons of resources like videos, audios, ebooks and many other tools which makes learning so easy. It has quick money blueprints that you can implement and skillset videos that will help you develop your skills as you grow your business. Above all it has mindset coaching which is very vital for your success. Mindset represents 80% of our success and strategies only equal 20% so this is an amazing tool for your business growth and success.

It’s the best one you’ll ever need to create an income online. Yes, this online coaching club will charge you $97, but it has a 60 Day Money Back Guarantee with no questions asked so what have you got to lose? If you try it, you can create an income you have never imagined you can have. I’m an insider so I know. Of course you have to TAKE ACTION for it to work as this is not a get-rich-quick scheme type of club. TAKE ACTION and you’ll see RESULTS!

What you will discover inside the club (among many other things) is the ability to help other highly successful companies in promoting their products and get paid a handsome commission for every single bit of business you help them get.

It’s pretty cool that you don’t even need your own product isn’t it?

You see, companies are rapidly moving toward a new model of marketing, and that model is based on people like YOU to get the word out about their products.

You can do this anywhere in the World. You’re no longer an employee, you can be a partner! When you sign up now, you are becoming a partner of a company working for yourself! You can start building your financial future.

3. The Minisite Formula

Another great product for novices is The Minisite Formula. It is one product that teaches you step by step to build your online business. I’ve checked it out myself and I’ve learned many things from it. It’s a great tool to use whether you want to start a home business on a low budget or a high budget. What’s great about it is that it’s a video course which makes learning easy. This video course was launched in 2009 and has a lot of new information like Web 2.0 that are used these days.

The Minisite Formula is unlike any other course because Joel Peterson is not promising you a site that make thousand of dollars a day, or even $10 a day but only $3 a day.

The system is actually teaching to build a mini-site in half an hour that make you $3 a day consistently. You might think that $3 a day is not a lot but what if you have 100 sites or 1000 sites. It will be $9000 a month if you have 100 sites and $90000 a month if you have 1000 sites.

The main product contains over 5 hours of “Quality” step-by-step video training on EXACTLY how to build a mini site empire. Everything is organized to optimize the user learning experience and keep people excited. Extensive helps and resources are available in the download area. A Top-Notch product that is worth 10x the price.

4. Micro Niche Finder

If you have an online presence, one of the many ways that people will be able to find you is through the search engines. Search engines list you in their sites according to the keywords that you use in your website.

With Micro Niche Finder, you can get the jump on the competition and profit from a goldmine of under-the-radar niche markets.

Uncover Completely Overlooked Niche Markets that are so Profitable You’ll be Absolutely Shocked at How Easily You Found Them. (you’ll find so many profitable niche markets your biggest problem will be deciding which one you want to exploit first!)

Micro Niche Finder is guaranteed to “sniff-out” red hot, low competition, high demand keyword phrases that you can turn into quick profits. Here are just a few of the ways you can use Micro Niche Finder to create New Income Streams:

- Create articles to promote affiliate programs and collect regular commissions.

- Create Adsense content pages that pay you residual ad revenue.

- Create eBay feeder pages and make money when new users register for eBay.

- Create Squidoo Lenses and claim your share of the profits generated by the traffic.

- Create niche market private label rights packages and sell these rights for a quick profit.

- Find Unregistered Domain Names that have Built-In Profit Potential from Type In Traffic.

- Find New Markets that are just Begging for Hot New Info Products that You Can Create and Sell.

5. Fat Cat Blueprint

A great blueprint for anyone, whether novice or expert in making money online. If you want to start a high profit online business, Fat Cat Blueprint is a must read. It's simple, straightforward, and just about anyone can do it. I've personally checked out how his system works, so I know first hand that it can work for others. So check it out right now – grab this opportunity with both hands.

The above are the tools that have been profitable for me in my website building. You can copy this formula or you can make your own. However, remember that you need to FOCUS and be COMMITTED to your end goal. NEVER GIVE UP! Success won’t come overnight but I promise you, if you TAKE ACTION, you will see RESULTS!