Try #1 | Try #2

Try #1

• A custom approach may provide the best results.
• However, it can be a more difficult skill to learn -- practice, trial-and-error, ...
• It's sometimes easier to get started by finding and modifying existing grid patterns from a library.
• 6 theme entries may be overly ambitious; a 15 x 15 puzzle typically aims for 3-4 theme entries
• Staying too attached to favorite entries can lead to tradeoffs,
  constraining the number of grid designs and fill words.
• However, since we don't plan to publish, let's keep 'em all, and see what happens!
• During theme selection, one set included 4 * 9 letter words
  -- instead of 2 * 9 letter, 2 * 10 letter: REBELLION(S), ARAMDILLO(S)
• This subsection discusses why that option was rejected.
• Cruciverb: Grid Search:
  2 * 15-letter, 4 * 9-letter theme entries
• 5 possible grids with all 6 theme entries
  [on right]; open in browser tab to enlarge
• Each grid shows (at upper left)
  a word & block count, e.g., 78 / 34
• In all, 2 of the 9-letter entries are Down.
• Down entries are unusual, but they can be allowed;
  perhaps ok since there are still 4 Across theme entries?
  or if there were clever "Down" related clues: e.g.,
  "putting down" a REBELLION or an ARMADILLO?
• However, for this set of theme entries, the Across entries don't cross
  with the correct letters in the Down entries.
• Some grids with two 15-letter entries crossed in center would be amazing, but...
• CROSSPOLLINATOR misses (by 1 letter) 8th letter crossing with HAMLETSOLILOQUY!
• With some manual modifications
  to a template, a better grid library,
  or a completely custom layout,
  this theme set might've worked.

Try #2

• Cruciverb: Grid Search: 2 * 15-letter,
  2 * 10-letter, 2 * 9-letter entries
• 12 grids with all 6 entries [on right]
• "Stacking" of theme entries, e.g., 15-letter entry and 9-letter entry
  in adjacent rows, often lead to dead ends.
• #04 (on right) shows stacking, with all 6 Across entries
  (pink squares are unfillable words; swapping 9-letter entries didn't help)
• Although the Down crossings often don't work,
  the 9-letter Downs partially work in two grids:
• #12: OILLEASES x HAMLETSOLILOQUY [yes];
  HOIPOLLOI x CROSSPOLLINATOR [no]
• #10 (2 crossings!): OILLEASES x HAMLETSOLILOQUY + ARMADILLOS [yes];
  HOIPOLLOI x REBELLIONS + CROSSPOLLINATOR [no]
• #08: grid (shown at right) includes all 6 Across entries, no stacking;
• however, it's 72 / 40 -- 2 black squares more than the preferred max;
  and 2 theme entries do not abut left or right edge -- (as discussed under Grid)
• "Quick Fill" default result shown on far right
  -- a complete fill is possible, though with some unusual/obscure words.
• Or, manually add blocks, e.g., row of 3 near left top (& right bottom) for total of 32?
• 6 fewer 3-letter words --better;
  2 more 10-letter (non-theme) entries -- harder to fill
• Experiment with placement (swap 9-letter or 10-letter entries),
• or fewer blocks (30 blocks) -- Quick Fill fails.
• Doublecheck puzzle metrics and add 'meta' information.
• e.g., in CrossFire: Summary tab:
• General: # Words ≤ 78 ?; # Blocks ≤ 38 ?;
• Word counts: # of 3 letter entries ≤ 20 ?; 1-2-letter entries: 0 ?
• Puzzle info: enter Title (theme related), Author, Copyright,
  Note (to solver; optional) -- useful for later export/print
• Hopefully, in Fill (next section), we'll find better word choices.