Jess Shulman
@jessshulman.bsky.social
Freelance editor, crossword constructor, also busy with kids, music, books, paddleboarding, youth baseball, TV, cats/dogs... she/her
Reposted by Jess Shulman
AVCX, the world’s finest puzzles and games service, and an independent media venture, has done some really cool stuff this year! A thread to brag (and to hype our mini subscription drive) …
October 28, 2025 at 12:18 PM
AVCX, the world’s finest puzzles and games service, and an independent media venture, has done some really cool stuff this year! A thread to brag (and to hype our mini subscription drive) …
Reposted by Jess Shulman
@lilavcx.bsky.social , who make our midi puzzles, does a ton of mentoring work. They added seven new constructors this year, and mentored them all. Each constructor made 4-6 puzzles.
Lil ran 78 puzzles total, and they were tremendous and often genre-bending.
Lil ran 78 puzzles total, and they were tremendous and often genre-bending.
October 28, 2025 at 12:21 PM
@lilavcx.bsky.social , who make our midi puzzles, does a ton of mentoring work. They added seven new constructors this year, and mentored them all. Each constructor made 4-6 puzzles.
Lil ran 78 puzzles total, and they were tremendous and often genre-bending.
Lil ran 78 puzzles total, and they were tremendous and often genre-bending.
Enjoy!
Today's puzzle is an 11x11 offering from Lil AVCX editor Jess Shulman (@jessshulman.bsky.social), entitled "On Your Merry Way". We think it'll have you leaping for joy with its cozy vibes!
![Crossword puzzle with 6-Down highlighted: [High tech device for a snowboarder?]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4yky6m7w7bd4kinepwyqjg5v/bafkreihmkadhwdimqzikrz6sqjxdf7fp3g2otgztosj5piuqnwrcublccm@jpeg)
October 20, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Enjoy!
Reposted by Jess Shulman
As we move toward our fall subscription drive, we hope you’ll consider supporting us in part bc we are an independent media company.
No, crosswords are not as vital as journalism. But yes, all content that we consume matters, and it should be as free as possible from corporate control.
No, crosswords are not as vital as journalism. But yes, all content that we consume matters, and it should be as free as possible from corporate control.
September 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
As we move toward our fall subscription drive, we hope you’ll consider supporting us in part bc we are an independent media company.
No, crosswords are not as vital as journalism. But yes, all content that we consume matters, and it should be as free as possible from corporate control.
No, crosswords are not as vital as journalism. But yes, all content that we consume matters, and it should be as free as possible from corporate control.
I, too, am delighted!
Delighted to be back in the Wall Street Journal over the weekend with a variety cryptic @jessshulman.bsky.social and I made!
www.wsj.com/articles/box...
www.wsj.com/articles/box...
Boxes (Saturday Cryptic Puzzle, August 23)
Boxes (Saturday Cryptic Puzzle, August 23)
www.wsj.com
August 26, 2025 at 9:18 PM
I, too, am delighted!
Reposted by Jess Shulman
Delighted to be back in the Wall Street Journal over the weekend with a variety cryptic @jessshulman.bsky.social and I made!
www.wsj.com/articles/box...
www.wsj.com/articles/box...
Boxes (Saturday Cryptic Puzzle, August 23)
Boxes (Saturday Cryptic Puzzle, August 23)
www.wsj.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Delighted to be back in the Wall Street Journal over the weekend with a variety cryptic @jessshulman.bsky.social and I made!
www.wsj.com/articles/box...
www.wsj.com/articles/box...
Reposted by Jess Shulman
Classic is at capacity for the current submission cycle! Thanks for all the beautiful puzzles you’ve sent these past couple months. We look forward to seeing more in December when we reopen.
-Ben and the editorial team
-Ben and the editorial team
June 23, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Classic is at capacity for the current submission cycle! Thanks for all the beautiful puzzles you’ve sent these past couple months. We look forward to seeing more in December when we reopen.
-Ben and the editorial team
-Ben and the editorial team
I keep forgetting to post here. New Walrus puzzle up this week—enjoy!
Walrus.ca/games/crossword
#thewalrus #crossword
Walrus.ca/games/crossword
#thewalrus #crossword
June 1, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I keep forgetting to post here. New Walrus puzzle up this week—enjoy!
Walrus.ca/games/crossword
#thewalrus #crossword
Walrus.ca/games/crossword
#thewalrus #crossword
Reposted by Jess Shulman
Our third sample puzzle is now available to solve!
You can solve “Inside Information” by Jasmeet Arora and @xws.bsky.social for free at abortionpuzzles.com!
If you enjoy this puzzle, wait until you see what’s in store with the full TPFA pack! Available with a donation at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa!
You can solve “Inside Information” by Jasmeet Arora and @xws.bsky.social for free at abortionpuzzles.com!
If you enjoy this puzzle, wait until you see what’s in store with the full TPFA pack! Available with a donation at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa!
May 8, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Our third sample puzzle is now available to solve!
You can solve “Inside Information” by Jasmeet Arora and @xws.bsky.social for free at abortionpuzzles.com!
If you enjoy this puzzle, wait until you see what’s in store with the full TPFA pack! Available with a donation at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa!
You can solve “Inside Information” by Jasmeet Arora and @xws.bsky.social for free at abortionpuzzles.com!
If you enjoy this puzzle, wait until you see what’s in store with the full TPFA pack! Available with a donation at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa!
Reposted by Jess Shulman
AVCX Classic submissions are open again! Our May-June season is live, and we look forward to seeing your stuff.
We welcome work from all, but are especially excited to see crosswords from queer, non-white, and non-male constructors.
Details:
avxwords.com/submit-a-puz...
We welcome work from all, but are especially excited to see crosswords from queer, non-white, and non-male constructors.
Details:
avxwords.com/submit-a-puz...
Submit a Puzzle – AVCXTwitterFacebookTwitterFacebook
avxwords.com
May 2, 2025 at 6:03 PM
AVCX Classic submissions are open again! Our May-June season is live, and we look forward to seeing your stuff.
We welcome work from all, but are especially excited to see crosswords from queer, non-white, and non-male constructors.
Details:
avxwords.com/submit-a-puz...
We welcome work from all, but are especially excited to see crosswords from queer, non-white, and non-male constructors.
Details:
avxwords.com/submit-a-puz...
Reposted by Jess Shulman
We're back this week with a smooth-as-butter 11x11 puzzle for you to bite into! "Mega Bites" comes from AVCX editor Jess Shulman (@jessshulman.bsky.social), who is bringing some hangry vibes to today's party.
![Crossword puzzle with 5-Down highlighted: [Key to a capital?] (five letters)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4yky6m7w7bd4kinepwyqjg5v/bafkreid2qdpujcky5sf5zu46vb6iuf4yh46j7opawm4ap3div3jtxyfozy@jpeg)
April 28, 2025 at 12:30 AM
We're back this week with a smooth-as-butter 11x11 puzzle for you to bite into! "Mega Bites" comes from AVCX editor Jess Shulman (@jessshulman.bsky.social), who is bringing some hangry vibes to today's party.
Reposted by Jess Shulman
✨Constructor Spotlight✨
Sara Goodchild (she/her, @sarathegood.bsky.social) is an editor & puzzlemaker based in Toronto. She’s honoured to be contributing to TPFA for a 2nd time: abortion is health care!
Sara co-created a brilliant puzzle with Steve Mossberg.
Available at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa!
Sara Goodchild (she/her, @sarathegood.bsky.social) is an editor & puzzlemaker based in Toronto. She’s honoured to be contributing to TPFA for a 2nd time: abortion is health care!
Sara co-created a brilliant puzzle with Steve Mossberg.
Available at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa!
April 23, 2025 at 10:49 PM
✨Constructor Spotlight✨
Sara Goodchild (she/her, @sarathegood.bsky.social) is an editor & puzzlemaker based in Toronto. She’s honoured to be contributing to TPFA for a 2nd time: abortion is health care!
Sara co-created a brilliant puzzle with Steve Mossberg.
Available at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa!
Sara Goodchild (she/her, @sarathegood.bsky.social) is an editor & puzzlemaker based in Toronto. She’s honoured to be contributing to TPFA for a 2nd time: abortion is health care!
Sara co-created a brilliant puzzle with Steve Mossberg.
Available at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa!
Reposted by Jess Shulman
We reached $30K this week! 🤑
That’s 6,000 💵 EACH to
@baltimorefund.bsky.social
Tampa Bay Abortion Fund
Chicago Abortion Fund
@iwrising.bsky.social
Mariposa Fund
We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed to and shared our campaign!
Thank you, thank you!! 💜
fund.nnaf.org/tpfa
That’s 6,000 💵 EACH to
@baltimorefund.bsky.social
Tampa Bay Abortion Fund
Chicago Abortion Fund
@iwrising.bsky.social
Mariposa Fund
We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed to and shared our campaign!
Thank you, thank you!! 💜
fund.nnaf.org/tpfa
April 19, 2025 at 11:31 AM
We reached $30K this week! 🤑
That’s 6,000 💵 EACH to
@baltimorefund.bsky.social
Tampa Bay Abortion Fund
Chicago Abortion Fund
@iwrising.bsky.social
Mariposa Fund
We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed to and shared our campaign!
Thank you, thank you!! 💜
fund.nnaf.org/tpfa
That’s 6,000 💵 EACH to
@baltimorefund.bsky.social
Tampa Bay Abortion Fund
Chicago Abortion Fund
@iwrising.bsky.social
Mariposa Fund
We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed to and shared our campaign!
Thank you, thank you!! 💜
fund.nnaf.org/tpfa
Reposted by Jess Shulman
✨Constructor Spotlight✨
Jess Shulman (@jessshulman.bsky.social, she/her) is a crossword constructor and editor in Toronto, Ontario. In the early 1970s, her mom helped found the Toronto Women’s Caucus, one of Canada’s first activist feminist groups, which led some of the country’s earliest…
(1/2)
Jess Shulman (@jessshulman.bsky.social, she/her) is a crossword constructor and editor in Toronto, Ontario. In the early 1970s, her mom helped found the Toronto Women’s Caucus, one of Canada’s first activist feminist groups, which led some of the country’s earliest…
(1/2)
April 18, 2025 at 5:13 PM
✨Constructor Spotlight✨
Jess Shulman (@jessshulman.bsky.social, she/her) is a crossword constructor and editor in Toronto, Ontario. In the early 1970s, her mom helped found the Toronto Women’s Caucus, one of Canada’s first activist feminist groups, which led some of the country’s earliest…
(1/2)
Jess Shulman (@jessshulman.bsky.social, she/her) is a crossword constructor and editor in Toronto, Ontario. In the early 1970s, her mom helped found the Toronto Women’s Caucus, one of Canada’s first activist feminist groups, which led some of the country’s earliest…
(1/2)
Reposted by Jess Shulman
Our second sample puzzle is now available to solve for free on our website!
Check out the cryptic puzzle “Lessons in Chemistry?” by @jessshulman.bsky.social at www.abortionpuzzles.com!
(& if you like this puzzle, you’ll love the 20+ other puzzles you’ll get when you donate at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa!)
Check out the cryptic puzzle “Lessons in Chemistry?” by @jessshulman.bsky.social at www.abortionpuzzles.com!
(& if you like this puzzle, you’ll love the 20+ other puzzles you’ll get when you donate at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa!)
April 1, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Our second sample puzzle is now available to solve for free on our website!
Check out the cryptic puzzle “Lessons in Chemistry?” by @jessshulman.bsky.social at www.abortionpuzzles.com!
(& if you like this puzzle, you’ll love the 20+ other puzzles you’ll get when you donate at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa!)
Check out the cryptic puzzle “Lessons in Chemistry?” by @jessshulman.bsky.social at www.abortionpuzzles.com!
(& if you like this puzzle, you’ll love the 20+ other puzzles you’ll get when you donate at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa!)
So happy to see this puzzle come out, a fun collab with my good friend @amiewalker.bsky.social
Enjoy! Thanks as always to Patti for her insightful editing.
www.latimes.com/games/daily-...
Enjoy! Thanks as always to Patti for her insightful editing.
www.latimes.com/games/daily-...
March 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
So happy to see this puzzle come out, a fun collab with my good friend @amiewalker.bsky.social
Enjoy! Thanks as always to Patti for her insightful editing.
www.latimes.com/games/daily-...
Enjoy! Thanks as always to Patti for her insightful editing.
www.latimes.com/games/daily-...
Reposted by Jess Shulman
My son has his crossword puzzle debut in the LA Times today.
He is the youngest person to publish a puzzle there, at 12 years old!! Sorry for the earnest post, but I love him a whole lot!!
He is the youngest person to publish a puzzle there, at 12 years old!! Sorry for the earnest post, but I love him a whole lot!!
March 7, 2025 at 12:39 PM
My son has his crossword puzzle debut in the LA Times today.
He is the youngest person to publish a puzzle there, at 12 years old!! Sorry for the earnest post, but I love him a whole lot!!
He is the youngest person to publish a puzzle there, at 12 years old!! Sorry for the earnest post, but I love him a whole lot!!
I’m very proud to be a part of These Puzzles Fund Abortion 5 — what’s happening to our friends south of the border is damn scary, and this is a great way that we can help. This year’s pack contains 23 original, brand-new puzzles centered on social and reproductive justice themes (mine’s a cryptic)
We are happy to announce that our crossword pack is now available! Thank you to those who donated during our presale; you will receive the puzzles today. We are currently at 15% of our fundraising goal! Check us out at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa if you haven’t donated yet!
March 1, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I’m very proud to be a part of These Puzzles Fund Abortion 5 — what’s happening to our friends south of the border is damn scary, and this is a great way that we can help. This year’s pack contains 23 original, brand-new puzzles centered on social and reproductive justice themes (mine’s a cryptic)
I had the pleasure of editing this lovely puzz from Katja — please enjoy!
Today we invite you to explore the depths of this 7x11 puzzle by Lil roster alum Katja Brinck (@katjabrinck.bsky.social), titled "Let's Go Spelunking!" There's nothing dark or scary about it … just wonders to behold.
![Crossword puzzle with 1-Across highlighted: [What hopefully falls when a conductor raises their baton] (4 letters)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4yky6m7w7bd4kinepwyqjg5v/bafkreidien7pmlj4w7icdmmnfm43tlagstwjfpsjsvy7tkuhaheqd3urae@jpeg)
February 24, 2025 at 4:14 PM
I had the pleasure of editing this lovely puzz from Katja — please enjoy!
Yay yay yay! New roster for 2025! Super excited to meet and work with this impressive (and so smiley!) gang 😊
Congrats to you all ❤️
Congrats to you all ❤️
Lil AVCX is thrilled to announce our 2025 Roster! We are excited to bring you puzzles by these constructors 🥳
Alex Rossell Hayes @alxrh.bsky.social
Alisya Reza @alisyareza.bsky.social
Ben Wilson @zerofiftyone.bsky.social
Carina da Rosa @carinadarosa.bsky.social
K. J. Sarr
Katie Hoody
Terry Sun
Alex Rossell Hayes @alxrh.bsky.social
Alisya Reza @alisyareza.bsky.social
Ben Wilson @zerofiftyone.bsky.social
Carina da Rosa @carinadarosa.bsky.social
K. J. Sarr
Katie Hoody
Terry Sun
February 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Yay yay yay! New roster for 2025! Super excited to meet and work with this impressive (and so smiley!) gang 😊
Congrats to you all ❤️
Congrats to you all ❤️
I constructed this week’s Walrus crossword. Happy solving!
Looking for something to do this weekend? The new crossword from The Walrus Games is up. Tell us how you did. thewalrus.ca/games/
February 16, 2025 at 1:12 AM
I constructed this week’s Walrus crossword. Happy solving!
So thrilled to be a part of Cryptic Crossweird. And touched by the note in their Patreon email this morning: “We loved how collaborative the process was with Jess, and it’s clear to us from working with her what a wordsmith she is.” ❤️❤️❤️
Hope you like it!
Hope you like it!
new puzzle day!
"covered with kitty feet" by @jessshulman.bsky.social is a real treat! you can find it at patreon.com/crypticcrossweird
"covered with kitty feet" by @jessshulman.bsky.social is a real treat! you can find it at patreon.com/crypticcrossweird
February 3, 2025 at 3:29 PM
So thrilled to be a part of Cryptic Crossweird. And touched by the note in their Patreon email this morning: “We loved how collaborative the process was with Jess, and it’s clear to us from working with her what a wordsmith she is.” ❤️❤️❤️
Hope you like it!
Hope you like it!
Reposted by Jess Shulman
Thanks to everyone who submitted a puzzle to AVCX Classic this cycle. We’ve reached our submission limit for this cycle, so we’re closing up a few days early.
We invite and very much look forward to seeing your work in May, when we reopen.
We invite and very much look forward to seeing your work in May, when we reopen.
January 26, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Thanks to everyone who submitted a puzzle to AVCX Classic this cycle. We’ve reached our submission limit for this cycle, so we’re closing up a few days early.
We invite and very much look forward to seeing your work in May, when we reopen.
We invite and very much look forward to seeing your work in May, when we reopen.
Reposted by Jess Shulman
Thread with AVCX’s revised editorial policy regarding Donald Trump:
—
In early 2017, AVCX announced a new editorial policy, namely that we as a feature would regard Donald Trump as an asshole when we referred to him in print.
—
In early 2017, AVCX announced a new editorial policy, namely that we as a feature would regard Donald Trump as an asshole when we referred to him in print.
January 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Thread with AVCX’s revised editorial policy regarding Donald Trump:
—
In early 2017, AVCX announced a new editorial policy, namely that we as a feature would regard Donald Trump as an asshole when we referred to him in print.
—
In early 2017, AVCX announced a new editorial policy, namely that we as a feature would regard Donald Trump as an asshole when we referred to him in print.
Reposted by Jess Shulman
I'm happy to announce The Gnomon: a new variety cryptic crosswords outlet launching June 2025, with free previews coming February and April.
www.gnomoncryptics.com
www.gnomoncryptics.com
January 24, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I'm happy to announce The Gnomon: a new variety cryptic crosswords outlet launching June 2025, with free previews coming February and April.
www.gnomoncryptics.com
www.gnomoncryptics.com