Okay, so I’ve been trying to get better at the NYT Mini Crossword. It’s, like, this daily thing, and I wanted to see if I could actually finish it consistently. I’d heard some people complain about it, saying it was too hard or whatever, so I took that as a personal challenge. I mean, how hard could a mini crossword be, right?
First thing I did was just… try it. No strategy, no nothing. Just dove in headfirst. I opened the NYT Games app on my phone – I already had a subscription because, you know, Spelling Bee is life – and tapped on the Mini.
First few attempts? Total disaster. I’d get, like, two or three words and then just stare blankly at the screen. It was pretty humbling, to be honest.
My “Training” Begins
So, I decided I needed a better approach. I started paying more attention to the clues. Like, really reading them. Not just glancing and jumping to conclusions. I also noticed that the Mini, like the big crossword, has themes sometimes. Figuring out the theme, even vaguely, can help a lot.
- I learned to look for double meanings in the clues.
- I tried to think of synonyms, not just the first word that popped into my head.
- Fill in the blank clues. I started those clues first.
Then there are those fill-in-the-blank clues. Those used to trip me up, but I realized they’re often the easiest! You just have to think about common phrases and sayings.
I also started doing the Mini earlier in the day. Turns out, my brain works better in the morning. Who knew? When I tried doing it at night, after a long day, I was just too tired to think straight.
It took a few weeks, but I finally started finishing them! It wasn’t pretty at first. My times were, shall we say, not impressive. But I was doing it! And gradually, my times improved. Now, most days, I can finish it in under two minutes. Which is, you know, not amazing, but it’s good enough for me. I still have days, though. I still will look blankly on the screen. But I persevered. I’m not, a cruciverbalist, I’m just stubborn.
So, yeah, that’s my complain NYT mini story. It’s not rocket science, but it took some practice and a little bit of strategy. It’s totally doable, though. Don’t let the complainers get to you!