*** NOTE: The below call for puzzles is now closed. We will announce if/when our next call is open. Thank you! ***

AVCX+, a branch of the indie crossword venue AVCX, is excited to openly invite submissions for original variety word puzzles, with expected publication in 2025 or early 2026. We will determine the exact schedule of variety puzzle publication in the coming months. Puzzle pitches submitted by 11:59pm ET on Monday, June 30th, 2025 will be considered; read below for guidelines on puzzle philosophy, content, and submission.

In this open submission call, we're specifically seeking variety word puzzles: puzzles where solvers are given clues and asked to put letters into grids with non-crossword geometries. (See below for the types of variety puzzles we are soliciting.) As with our crosswords, our goal is to showcase puzzles that reflect clear intentionality, high-quality answer words, thoughtful puzzle design and cluing, and good vibes. Our editorial approach intends to highlight the unique voices and inventiveness of our contributors, while respecting the diverse solving experiences of our audience. For more details on our overall editorial ethos, see our crossword spec sheet.

Specific guidance on submitting a variety puzzle pitch is outlined below. Because these puzzles are often more intricate than standard crosswords, we strongly encourage you to read this spec sheet in full before developing your idea — we don't want you to spend time on something that might not be a good fit for AVCX+.

What we are seeking in this call:

• Existing variety puzzle formats that feature interesting ways to enter words into grids, such as Rows Garden, Trail Mix, Marching Bands, Spell Weaving, Labyrinth, Patchwork, Twists and Turns, Spiral, and others. (Links are provided to non-AVCX puzzles for reference on the puzzle formats only, not necessarily content or editorial approach.)
• Original variety puzzle formats with elegant, consistent execution and visually compelling grid designs. We like innovative puzzle geometries, although they should be intuitive for solvers to navigate. We will collaborate with constructors to ensure that puzzles are publication-ready (either just as printable PDF for unusual formats, or as PDF + JPZ/IPUZ for formats that can be experienced smoothly in a digital solving interface).
• Puzzles that incorporate thematic or meta elements — particularly when these layers cleverly interact with the puzzle's visual or mechanical design, or relate meaningfully to timely topics. For example, a Halloween-themed puzzle requiring solvers to navigate around Jack-o'-lanterns in the grid might feature a meta answer strongly connected to the seasonal theme. We welcome puzzle concepts that lend themselves naturally to publication on a specific date or time of year, or that have a clear and compelling reason to exist at the time of publication.
• Note that, regardless of puzzle format, we prefer that all letters in the grid be "checked" — meaning there should generally be at least two different ways for a solver to confirm each letter. In most formats, this means providing two or more clue sets (such as Rows and Blooms in a Rows Garden, or Inward and Outward clues in a Spiral), or using grid geometry that naturally checks letters (such as the intersecting paths in Spell Weaving). We also welcome puzzles that use a final meta extraction step as the second way to confirm otherwise unchecked letters.
• Puzzle grids may be of any shape, but we'd prefer to see between 100 and 225 answer letters. Short answers (especially 3- and 4-letter words) and subpar fill should be kept to a minimum.

What we are NOT seeking in this call:

• Variety crossword formats, including barred crosswords, vowelless crosswords, Puns and Anagrams, Double or Nothing, Pencil Pointers, Twinlets, Something Different, etc.
• Variety cryptics. We are primarily interested in puzzles that use standard U.S.-style cluing conventions, not cryptic clues.
• Word puzzles that lack clues entirely, such as Split Decisions, Jumbles, word searches, or other formats where letters are pre-given and solvers are asked to locate or assemble words.
• Acrostics, cryptograms, or other puzzles that use a cipher to map one set of letters to another, which is sometimes tedious for solvers to do on paper.

Because constructing a high-quality variety puzzle, especially one with intricate layers, requires substantial effort (and may not always yield successful results), we are initially only asking for puzzle pitches in the submission process.

Your pitch should include the following information:

1. A description of your proposed variety puzzle format, especially if it's an original concept. If it's an existing, well-known variety puzzle format, simply naming it is sufficient. If you intend to modify an existing format, clearly explain the changes you plan to incorporate.
2. A puzzle title and instructional text (even if preliminary placeholders). A strong, evocative title is valuable for new puzzle formats. Instructional text should be clear and welcoming, teaching solvers how to navigate your puzzle. If your puzzle format is widely known (e.g., Marching Bands), instructional text can be omitted in your pitch. If your puzzle has a meta extraction that requires a specific prompt, include that as well.
3. A visual mockup of the blank puzzle grid, showing any thematic or structural elements relevant to your idea. The mockup can be rough — hand-drawn sketches, spreadsheet screenshots, or other simple visuals are acceptable, so long as we can clearly understand the grid geometry and how words should be entered. If your puzzle is accepted, we'll help prepare your grid professionally for publication.
4. If applicable, an explanation of the thematic and/or meta components, describing clearly how solvers will interact with them. Please thoughtfully assess whether your thematic/meta concepts are realistically achievable given the puzzle format's constraints. We want to be confident your idea is feasible before we greenlight it.
5. Any additional materials or context to support your pitch, such as examples of previous variety puzzles you've constructed, evidence of feasibility (such as any preliminary proof-of-concept work), or your desired timing for publication, if your puzzle is linked to a particular date or event.

Your pitch email may be as concise or detailed as necessary to clearly convey the above points.

Here's how we'll handle submissions, review, and editing:

1. Pitch review and greenlighting — After reviewing submissions, we'll select a limited number of pitches to greenlight. A greenlight is not a guarantee of publication or payment, but it means we believe the idea is strong and well-suited for AVCX+.
2. Puzzle draft completion — If your pitch is greenlit, you'll have up to 3 months to construct and clue the puzzle. During this period, we're happy to review and provide feedback on your work-in-progress via email.
3. Puzzle acceptance — We'll review the final construction, and if everything is in place, we'll accept the puzzle and schedule it for publication. Payment is guaranteed if your puzzle is accepted at this stage.
4. Editing and testing — Finally, we'll edit the puzzle, have it test-solved, and prepare it for publication.

Payment for each accepted puzzle will be $300 or greater, depending on exact subscription figures (amount is split evenly between authors in the case of a collaboration), and will be delivered by paper check near the end of the quarter in which the puzzle runs. A submitted puzzle must be original work that has never been published anywhere else, and that is not under consideration at any other market or venue. Authors retain the full rights to their puzzles after they are published by AVCX+.

This open call will close at 11:59pm ET on Monday, June 30th, 2025. Our goal is to respond to all pitches by the end of July. If you haven't heard back from us by then, feel free to send a nudge. We're looking forward to reviewing your ideas!