It’s not as easy as you think to build crossword puzzle

Today’s question: I am a fan of crosswords and am curious about how they are made. How do the creators figure out all the letter combinations and come up with the final product? They prefer to be called constructors instead of creators.

I’m not sure why. I suppose it’s for the same reason that newspaper reporters prefer to be called journalists and not grubby ink-stained wretches.

Have you ever looked at a really easy crossword puzzle in the paper and thought that it must have been easy to construct and you could do it if you wanted to?

Go ahead. Try it. It’s a lot harder than you might think. That’s probably why there are only around 200 or so people who can actually make a living doing it.

Each of those 200 or so constructors probably have their own ways of going about the job, but there seem to be a few basics.

First you start with a theme, something that will sort of tie things together.

Then you fill in the longer answers that generally follow that theme. Then you go back and fill in the short ones. And remember: You’re going to need a lot of vowels.

Finally, you send it off to an editor who decides whether to buy it and if so polishes up the answers a bit and tightens the messy clues.

And don’t give up your day job. You’re probably not going to get rich constructing crosswords fulltime.

The last time I checked the New York Times paid $1,000 for a Sunday puzzle and $200 to $300 for everyday puzzles.