Naomi Tucker - Page 17 - Inkwell X Words

Naomi Tucker

Naomi solves the New York Times crossword every morning, the Friday and Saturday with substantial profanity, and writes about the strange world of competitive crossword culture. Twelve years in word puzzles, two appearances at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, one finish that was respectable enough to mention but not so impressive she'll tell you the rank.

Page 17 of 17 198 articles total

The 5 Crossword Conventions I Actually Hate (Hot Take)

After years of crossword solving, I have specific complaints about specific conventions. Here are five conventions I actually hate, with reasons.

Naomi Tucker May 5, 2026 7 min read

Why I Switched From The Times Crossword to The New Yorker (And Why I'm Switching Back)

I tried switching my daily crossword from the New York Times to The New Yorker. Six months in, I'm switching back. Here's…

Naomi Tucker May 5, 2026 6 min read

My Brutally Honest ACPT Recap (As Someone Who Came in 247th)

I went to my first American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. I came in 247th out of about 700. Here's the honest recap including…

Naomi Tucker May 5, 2026 7 min read

My Honest Take on Wordle (After Playing It 1,200 Days in a Row)

I've played Wordle every day for over 1,200 days. The honest take is more complicated than either the enthusiasts or the skeptics…

Naomi Tucker May 5, 2026 7 min read

Constructors

Why Crossword Constructors Are Underrated (And Who You Should Know)

Most solvers don't know who makes the puzzles. The constructors deserve more attention because the differences between them substantially affect what solving…

Naomi Tucker May 5, 2026 7 min read

I Solved Every NYT Crossword for a Year. Here's What I Actually Learned.

I solved every New York Times crossword for 365 consecutive days. The data is interesting. The lessons are more interesting than the…

Naomi Tucker May 5, 2026 7 min read