At first, these challenging, but fiendishly fun, puzzles look like the usual crossword. But there's a devilish twist: you write only the consonants in the boxes, not the vowels. So when you look at the grid, there's no quick way to know exactly how many letters make up the right solution.

What are the rules of a crossword puzzle?

Word Length: All words should be at least three letters. All letters must be “keyed”, meaning they are in an across word and a down word. Black Square Frequency: Historically, crossword creators were encouraged to limit black squares to no more than one sixth of the grid, or about 17%.

How much do you get paid for a crossword puzzle?

crossword construction probably won't make you rich. Most constructors work on a freelance basis, on a "per puzzle payment plan," if you will. The best known crossword publisher, the New York Times, pays $200 to $300 a puzzle, and $1,000 if you land a coveted Sunday spot (source).