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Last updated September 2025

Please leave a comment if you have any questions or can't find something you're looking for, and I'll help as soon as I can! — Matthew		Publication updatesSubmission LogisticsPuzzle Construction Logistics
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Editors
(*Lead editor)		Full specsSend submissions to:Submission limitsAverage response timeAverage acceptance to publication timeTitle?Theme queries?Themeless puzzles? (Max word count)Aysmmetry allowed?Rebuses?Circled squares?15x rate21x rateOtherNon-standard sizes?Publishes online or print onlyNotes
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DailyNew York Times
*Will Shortz
Tracy Bennett
Sam Ezersky
Joel Fagliano
Christina Iverson
Wyna Liu
Ian Livengood		LinkThis online submission portal
[PDF editor for NYT submissions]		Three puzzles pending review
"We count collaborations as half for each byline."
"If your collaborator has never been published by the Times, the puzzle will not count toward your total."		3 monthsSunday onlyNoYes (72)SparinglyYesYes and shaded$500 if first or second
$750 third and onward		$1,500 if first or second $2,250 third and onwardVariety puzzle: $60016x15 and 15x16 are sometimes published, as are 14x15 or 14x16. There should be a theme-specific reason for these dimensions. Any larger is not accomodated in daily puzzles.

21x22, 22x21, 22x22 and other oddly-sized grids are accomodated on Sundays.
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Universal
**Submissions open until October 1**
*David Steinberg
Taylor Johnson
Jared Goudsmit
Amie Walker		Linkamsxwords@gmail.comFive submissions per month between Universal and Universal Sunday
Submissions open only during odd-numbered months (January, March, May, July, September, November) (collaborations count as 0.5 puzzles)		1 week1.5 monthsYesYesYes (74)YesNoYes*

*editors will help with workarounds for web-based solver that does not support circles		$150N/ANoSymmetry no longer required
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USA Today
**Submissions closed until November 1**
*Amanda Rafkin
Anna Gundlach		Linkusatcrosswords@gmail.comTwo submissions per month
between the 1st and 7th of every odd-numbered month (January, March, May, July, September, November) (collaborations count as 1 puzzle)		2-3 monthsYesYesYes (78)YesNoNo$150N/ANoWeekend puzzles published online onlySymmetry not required

I strongly encourage reading the spec sheet in its entirety and solving a few days' worth of USA Today puzzles to get a clear idea of what the team is looking for! — M.S.
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Apple News+Job posting: Puzzles Editor*Erik Agard
Anna Gundlach		Linkapplenewscrossword@puzzlesociety.comOne submission at a time
New submissions only after an existing submission has been accepted or rejected		2 monthsmonthsThemed onlyNo; clued puzzles onlyYes (78)YesNoYes$400N/ANoOnline onlySymmetry not required
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Wall Street Journal*Mike Shenk
Joanne Sullivan		Linkwsjpuzzles@mikeshenk.comThree total puzzles/queries pending review
Not including completed puzzles that have been accepted for publication		8 months
Revisions 1 mo.		3 monthsYesCompleted puzzles preferred over theme queries. Clued grids required after themes are approved.NoNoSparinglyYes$200$500NoNo Schrödinger puzzles (in which squares have more than one correct answer)
No unsolicited submissions for the Friday meta puzzles
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Los Angeles Times*Patti Varol
Katie Hale		LinkLATCrossword@pattivarol.comThree unanswered submissions pending review~1.5 monthsSunday onlySunday and oddly sized only; completed, clued puzzles preferred otherwiseYes (72)NoNoYes$150$30016x15 accepted
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NewsdayStanley NewmanLinksngrids@gmail.com"Newcomers should submit no more than one theme idea at a time."YesYesYes (72), inquiry welcome if previously published elsewhereNoNoNo$100 M-F, $150 Sat$300
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Puzzmo
**Submissions closed until future open submission week TBD**		Brooke HusicLinkYesNoYesYesNoYes$150Midi puzzles (60-110 white squares)
Online only
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WeeklyDefector
Monday		*Maitreyi Anantharaman
Hoang-Kim Vu		Linkcrosswords@defector.comOne puzzle/query at a time2 weeks3-6 monthsYesYesYes, but run sparinglySparingly
(see specs)		Yes$400Yes, any rectangular puzzle ≥ 208 squaresOnline onlySports themes encouraged
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AVCX Classic
Wednesday
**Submissions closed until December**		*Ben Tausig
Francis Heaney
Wyna Liu
Karen Lurie
Paolo Pasco
Jess Shulman
Quiara Vasquez
Byron Walden		Linkeditor@avxwords.comOne puzzle/query, including those queued for publication1 month-6 weeksYesYesYes, but not often accepted given current backlogSparinglyYesYes and shaded$400$500Any sizeOnline onlyAccepts submissions December-January, May-June
"(Often, when we reach the cap for a given submission period, we close early, so it may be wise to aim for the earlier part of a given submission window)"
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Fireball
Wednesday		Peter GordonLinkxwords@optonline.netOne puzzle/query at a time
No more than one submission per week		Within one week4-12 monthsYesYesNoNoYesYes$451"As long as the two numbers [15x15, e.g.] add up to 29 or more, I’ll consider it."See otherOnline onlyVery hard puzzles
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Spyscape
Friday		Will NedigerLinkspyscapecrosswords@gmail.com1 week4-6 monthsYesYesNoNoYesYes$200N/AYesOnline onlySpy-themed puzzles
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Universal Sunday
Sunday		Jared Goudsmit
Taylor Johnson
Amie Walker		Linkamsxwords@gmail.comFive submissions per month between Universal and Universal Sunday
Submissions open only during odd-numbered months (January, March, May, July, September, November)		1 month1.5 monthsYes`YesYes, every once in a while (134)YesNoYesN/A$350NoPrint onlyThemed grid art encouraged
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Twice monthlyAVCX+
Every other Friday
**Submissions currently paused**
Max Carpenter
Ada Nicolle
Sid Sivakumar
Hoang-Kim Vu		Linkavcxplus@gmail.comOne puzzle per person during the submission period (collaborations count as a full submission for each author on the byline)1–2 months3–6 monthsYesYes, but themed puzzles are rarely accepted; themeless submissions are given far higher priority. Responses to theme queries may be slowerYesNoUnlikelyYes and shaded$300 or moreN/AWill consider sizes/shapes other than 15x15 if there is a good reasonOnline only
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Atlantic
Every other Sunday		Kelsey DixonLinkkelseydixon@theatlantic.comOne submission at a time
Collaborations count as one submission for each constructor		6 weeksNoN/AYes, exclusivelyYesNoNo$400N/A"Will also consider other sizes such as 14x16, 15x16, etc."Online onlyAsymmetrical grids acceptable; midweek difficulty
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Cryptic Crossweird
1st and 3rd Mondays		Momes
Dob Olino
Bob Weisz		Linkcryptics@crossweirdpuzzles.comOne puzzle in the queue at a time1-2 weeks2-3 monthsYesNo, but grids must be accepted before moving onto cluingN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A$80~90 white squares in both blocked and barred cryptics — see specs for more detailsOnline onlyCryptics
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The GnomonAndy YingstLinkgnomoncryptics@gmail.comYesN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A$5 per clueOnline onlyVariety cryptics
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MonthlyAriadne's Crossword Library
1st of each month		Emma OxfordLinkdamefoxwords@gmail.comYesYesNoN/AYesYesSee specs for detailsSee specs for detailsOnline onlyMeta contest crosswords
Puzzles by women and woman-aligned constructors
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YearlySimon & Schuster
Mega Series
**Submissions currently paused**		John Samsonjsamson001@gmail.comOne query + one grid4+ yearsYesYesYesNoYesYes$75$20017x: $110
19x: $150		Only those specified in "Other"Print onlyPuzzles are published in an annual 300-puzzle book and paid upon publication; accepted puzzles are already filling the 2030 edition
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Misc.AVCX+ Variety Puzzles
**Submissions currently paused**		Max Carpenter
Ada Nicolle
Sid Sivakumar
Hoang-Kim Vu		Linkavcxplus@gmail.comTwo pitches during this open call (between now and June 30)1 month< 9 monthsYesYes; pitch details in spec sheetN/AN/AN/AN/A$300 or moreOnline onlyExisting puzzles such as Rows Garden, Trail Mix, Marching Bands, etc. or original variety formats; see specs for details
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TorontoTrivia.com
**Submissions currently paused**		Aaron BrownLinkaaron@torontotrivia.comYesNoYes$75 CAD
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