Steve Mossberg
@mossdef.bsky.social
Music teacher/crossword maker. Mog in The Independent, myself in the WSJ and elsewhere. Cryptics editor at AVCX. he/him
patreon.com/squarechase
patreon.com/squarechase
Reposted by Steve Mossberg
Getting people access to healthcare has always been important, but it’s going to be REALLY important in 2026.
We’ve been hard at work and can’t wait to share all the fun puzzles we’ve been working on.
Coming this spring: TPFA6!
We’ve been hard at work and can’t wait to share all the fun puzzles we’ve been working on.
Coming this spring: TPFA6!
January 10, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Getting people access to healthcare has always been important, but it’s going to be REALLY important in 2026.
We’ve been hard at work and can’t wait to share all the fun puzzles we’ve been working on.
Coming this spring: TPFA6!
We’ve been hard at work and can’t wait to share all the fun puzzles we’ve been working on.
Coming this spring: TPFA6!
I second all the advice in this very nice piece. I've found the most important, and perhaps even the most joyous thing, is to keep solving, learning, and refining my practice with the aim to make each puzzle more beautiful than the last. The journey only gets more rewarding.
With so many people taking up setting recently, I’ve put together a quick guide to help you get started.
www.mycrossword.co.uk/blog/becomin...
www.mycrossword.co.uk/blog/becomin...
Becoming a Cryptic Setter · MyCrossword
So you want to set cryptic crosswords... why? You know there's no money in it, right?
Okay, fine. You've been warned.
If you do, however, love puzzles and ...
www.mycrossword.co.uk
December 30, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I second all the advice in this very nice piece. I've found the most important, and perhaps even the most joyous thing, is to keep solving, learning, and refining my practice with the aim to make each puzzle more beautiful than the last. The journey only gets more rewarding.
Reposted by Steve Mossberg
Crossword x Lego
December 27, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Crossword x Lego
Reposted by Steve Mossberg
Person hitting some spiced rum merrily (7)
Unbelievable remixed ode to holly (4,6)
A Mossberg Christmas joint? Who knew? Honored to close out the AVCX Cryptics year under @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social's editorial eye. I hope it brightens your holiday! #cryptic #crossword
crosswordr.com/a/puzzle/ByT...
Unbelievable remixed ode to holly (4,6)
A Mossberg Christmas joint? Who knew? Honored to close out the AVCX Cryptics year under @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social's editorial eye. I hope it brightens your holiday! #cryptic #crossword
crosswordr.com/a/puzzle/ByT...
Crosswordr
crosswordr.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Person hitting some spiced rum merrily (7)
Unbelievable remixed ode to holly (4,6)
A Mossberg Christmas joint? Who knew? Honored to close out the AVCX Cryptics year under @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social's editorial eye. I hope it brightens your holiday! #cryptic #crossword
crosswordr.com/a/puzzle/ByT...
Unbelievable remixed ode to holly (4,6)
A Mossberg Christmas joint? Who knew? Honored to close out the AVCX Cryptics year under @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social's editorial eye. I hope it brightens your holiday! #cryptic #crossword
crosswordr.com/a/puzzle/ByT...
Person hitting some spiced rum merrily (7)
Unbelievable remixed ode to holly (4,6)
A Mossberg Christmas joint? Who knew? Honored to close out the AVCX Cryptics year under @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social's editorial eye. I hope it brightens your holiday! #cryptic #crossword
crosswordr.com/a/puzzle/ByT...
Unbelievable remixed ode to holly (4,6)
A Mossberg Christmas joint? Who knew? Honored to close out the AVCX Cryptics year under @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social's editorial eye. I hope it brightens your holiday! #cryptic #crossword
crosswordr.com/a/puzzle/ByT...
Crosswordr
crosswordr.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Person hitting some spiced rum merrily (7)
Unbelievable remixed ode to holly (4,6)
A Mossberg Christmas joint? Who knew? Honored to close out the AVCX Cryptics year under @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social's editorial eye. I hope it brightens your holiday! #cryptic #crossword
crosswordr.com/a/puzzle/ByT...
Unbelievable remixed ode to holly (4,6)
A Mossberg Christmas joint? Who knew? Honored to close out the AVCX Cryptics year under @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social's editorial eye. I hope it brightens your holiday! #cryptic #crossword
crosswordr.com/a/puzzle/ByT...
Reposted by Steve Mossberg
A rare but fun appearance by the gaffer Eimi in the Independent today, featuring this absolute corker:
Pinter play involving three people: a woman and two men (8)
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
Pinter play involving three people: a woman and two men (8)
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent
Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.
puzzles.independent.co.uk
December 24, 2025 at 11:20 AM
A rare but fun appearance by the gaffer Eimi in the Independent today, featuring this absolute corker:
Pinter play involving three people: a woman and two men (8)
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
Pinter play involving three people: a woman and two men (8)
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
Wow, I’m really in my element on this one! These Cryptic Crossweird folks are good people doing good puzzle work. Do check them out if you haven’t yet!
December 15, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Wow, I’m really in my element on this one! These Cryptic Crossweird folks are good people doing good puzzle work. Do check them out if you haven’t yet!
Reposted by Steve Mossberg
This is usually where I'd put some spiel about my cryptic crossword Patreon, but I'm just feeling lucky and proud to light the lights tonight. I think this Square Chase holiday puzzle is apt and, as always, free to all. I hope it brightens your evening.
www.patreon.com/posts/square...
www.patreon.com/posts/square...
December 14, 2025 at 8:03 PM
This is usually where I'd put some spiel about my cryptic crossword Patreon, but I'm just feeling lucky and proud to light the lights tonight. I think this Square Chase holiday puzzle is apt and, as always, free to all. I hope it brightens your evening.
www.patreon.com/posts/square...
www.patreon.com/posts/square...
Reposted by Steve Mossberg
Happy Chanukah to all who celebrate 🕎
play.usatoday.com/crossword
PSA: Sufganiyot is a plural word. The singular is sufganiya
play.usatoday.com/crossword
PSA: Sufganiyot is a plural word. The singular is sufganiya
December 14, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Happy Chanukah to all who celebrate 🕎
play.usatoday.com/crossword
PSA: Sufganiyot is a plural word. The singular is sufganiya
play.usatoday.com/crossword
PSA: Sufganiyot is a plural word. The singular is sufganiya
This is usually where I'd put some spiel about my cryptic crossword Patreon, but I'm just feeling lucky and proud to light the lights tonight. I think this Square Chase holiday puzzle is apt and, as always, free to all. I hope it brightens your evening.
www.patreon.com/posts/square...
www.patreon.com/posts/square...
December 14, 2025 at 8:03 PM
This is usually where I'd put some spiel about my cryptic crossword Patreon, but I'm just feeling lucky and proud to light the lights tonight. I think this Square Chase holiday puzzle is apt and, as always, free to all. I hope it brightens your evening.
www.patreon.com/posts/square...
www.patreon.com/posts/square...
Reposted by Steve Mossberg
Breakfast links bloat me a lot (7)
I'm sure you'll all be shocked to hear I put food into the title of my free-to-solve holiday #cryptic #crossword in the WSJ. I hope it brightens your day!
www.wsj.com/articles/sea...
I'm sure you'll all be shocked to hear I put food into the title of my free-to-solve holiday #cryptic #crossword in the WSJ. I hope it brightens your day!
www.wsj.com/articles/sea...
Season’s Eatings (Saturday Variety Puzzle, December 13)
Season’s Eatings (Saturday Variety Puzzle, December 13)
www.wsj.com
December 14, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Breakfast links bloat me a lot (7)
I'm sure you'll all be shocked to hear I put food into the title of my free-to-solve holiday #cryptic #crossword in the WSJ. I hope it brightens your day!
www.wsj.com/articles/sea...
I'm sure you'll all be shocked to hear I put food into the title of my free-to-solve holiday #cryptic #crossword in the WSJ. I hope it brightens your day!
www.wsj.com/articles/sea...
Breakfast links bloat me a lot (7)
I'm sure you'll all be shocked to hear I put food into the title of my free-to-solve holiday #cryptic #crossword in the WSJ. I hope it brightens your day!
www.wsj.com/articles/sea...
I'm sure you'll all be shocked to hear I put food into the title of my free-to-solve holiday #cryptic #crossword in the WSJ. I hope it brightens your day!
www.wsj.com/articles/sea...
Season’s Eatings (Saturday Variety Puzzle, December 13)
Season’s Eatings (Saturday Variety Puzzle, December 13)
www.wsj.com
December 14, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Breakfast links bloat me a lot (7)
I'm sure you'll all be shocked to hear I put food into the title of my free-to-solve holiday #cryptic #crossword in the WSJ. I hope it brightens your day!
www.wsj.com/articles/sea...
I'm sure you'll all be shocked to hear I put food into the title of my free-to-solve holiday #cryptic #crossword in the WSJ. I hope it brightens your day!
www.wsj.com/articles/sea...
Maybe 8 out of 10 Cats ended prematurely, in for broadcast (8)
It's a pleasure, as always, to set The Independent #cryptic #crossword, especially one with such a lovely palindromic number. I hope it brightens your day!
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
It's a pleasure, as always, to set The Independent #cryptic #crossword, especially one with such a lovely palindromic number. I hope it brightens your day!
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent
Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.
puzzles.independent.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Maybe 8 out of 10 Cats ended prematurely, in for broadcast (8)
It's a pleasure, as always, to set The Independent #cryptic #crossword, especially one with such a lovely palindromic number. I hope it brightens your day!
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
It's a pleasure, as always, to set The Independent #cryptic #crossword, especially one with such a lovely palindromic number. I hope it brightens your day!
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
What a treat to get to set #250 in The Browser with my friend Matthew Stock! I hope it brightens your day.
December 7, 2025 at 1:57 PM
What a treat to get to set #250 in The Browser with my friend Matthew Stock! I hope it brightens your day.
Looking forward to getting my copy!
I'm very excited about the excellent puzzles we've got lined up for Issue 2, coming out in January.
Setters this time will be:
ALP
Gennaro
Catnip
The Void
Heron
Ruskin
Umpire
Crenditi
Bard
Henri
That's 8 standard cryptics, an alphabetical jigsaw, and a barred thematic. Fun!
unchcrosswords.com
Setters this time will be:
ALP
Gennaro
Catnip
The Void
Heron
Ruskin
Umpire
Crenditi
Bard
Henri
That's 8 standard cryptics, an alphabetical jigsaw, and a barred thematic. Fun!
unchcrosswords.com
Unch Crossword Magazine
Unch, the clued-up crossword magazine
unchcrosswords.com
November 29, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Looking forward to getting my copy!
Reposted by Steve Mossberg
Solving, constructing for, and editing for @avcx.bsky.social has been one of the greatest joys of my puzzling life. If you’re looking for a great gift that supports independent media, check out this fantastic subscription - minis, full-size crosswords, cryptics, and trivia to your inbox weekly.
Here’s the deal! Subscribe, renew, or buy a gift subscription from avxwords.com from now thru the end of the year, and get a new meta mini pack, free.
After subscribing, send a blank email to freeminis@avxwords.com with “mini meta” in the subject line, and we’ll send you the pack. Honor system!
After subscribing, send a blank email to freeminis@avxwords.com with “mini meta” in the subject line, and we’ll send you the pack. Honor system!
November 23, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Solving, constructing for, and editing for @avcx.bsky.social has been one of the greatest joys of my puzzling life. If you’re looking for a great gift that supports independent media, check out this fantastic subscription - minis, full-size crosswords, cryptics, and trivia to your inbox weekly.
Reposted by Steve Mossberg
Always love @francisheaney.bsky.social's difficulty ratings! I've got this week's AVCX cryptic -- free to subscribers, or buy for $1! Big thanks for the expert editing, @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social, such a pleasure to work with you. avxwords.com/buy-individu...
November 14, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Always love @francisheaney.bsky.social's difficulty ratings! I've got this week's AVCX cryptic -- free to subscribers, or buy for $1! Big thanks for the expert editing, @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social, such a pleasure to work with you. avxwords.com/buy-individu...
Sega's hedgehog holds variable speed for many players (9)
It's always a pleasure to be back in The Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day!
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
It's always a pleasure to be back in The Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day!
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent
Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.
puzzles.independent.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Sega's hedgehog holds variable speed for many players (9)
It's always a pleasure to be back in The Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day!
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
It's always a pleasure to be back in The Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day!
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
Sara's Halloween cryptic is an annual highlight in The Browser. No time like the present to check out all five of them if you haven't!
My fifth Hallowe'en special for the Browser is up! If the tone is melancholy, it's because the Browser cryptic crossword is ending as of December. Huge thanks to Uri and Dan for providing such a fabulous venue for North American cryptics, helping so many of us get our start and practice our chops.
October 26, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Sara's Halloween cryptic is an annual highlight in The Browser. No time like the present to check out all five of them if you haven't!
Crossword's conclusion leaves spirit low (3)
@danfeyer.bsky.social at The Browser Crossword was the first editor to take a chance on me as a beginning cryptic setter, so I thought I'd make a little tribute puzzle on the blog.
I hope it brightens your day!
squarepursuit.com/2025/10/22/s...
@danfeyer.bsky.social at The Browser Crossword was the first editor to take a chance on me as a beginning cryptic setter, so I thought I'd make a little tribute puzzle on the blog.
I hope it brightens your day!
squarepursuit.com/2025/10/22/s...
So Long, and Thanks for All the Cryptics
Hello, cryptic lovers! I don’t do a lot of full-sized puzzles over here these days, but I can think of no better way to pay tribute to The Browser Crossword and its editor extraordinaire Dan Feyer,…
squarepursuit.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Crossword's conclusion leaves spirit low (3)
@danfeyer.bsky.social at The Browser Crossword was the first editor to take a chance on me as a beginning cryptic setter, so I thought I'd make a little tribute puzzle on the blog.
I hope it brightens your day!
squarepursuit.com/2025/10/22/s...
@danfeyer.bsky.social at The Browser Crossword was the first editor to take a chance on me as a beginning cryptic setter, so I thought I'd make a little tribute puzzle on the blog.
I hope it brightens your day!
squarepursuit.com/2025/10/22/s...
Reposted by Steve Mossberg
I've had a go at a puzzle for the American market in @avcx.bsky.social . avxwords.com. Thanks to @francisheaney.bsky.social for getting it in shape. I was advised against too much depressing reality, but was allowed one:
Perhaps Trump and Musk supporting introduction of fascism (5)
Perhaps Trump and Musk supporting introduction of fascism (5)
AVCX – Crosswords for the (not) faint of heart.
avxwords.com
October 19, 2025 at 12:16 AM
I've had a go at a puzzle for the American market in @avcx.bsky.social . avxwords.com. Thanks to @francisheaney.bsky.social for getting it in shape. I was advised against too much depressing reality, but was allowed one:
Perhaps Trump and Musk supporting introduction of fascism (5)
Perhaps Trump and Musk supporting introduction of fascism (5)
Too American to lead English orchestra (4)
Dwelling as The Beatles were in Hamburg? (6)
I set today's Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day!
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
Dwelling as The Beatles were in Hamburg? (6)
I set today's Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day!
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent
Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.
puzzles.independent.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Too American to lead English orchestra (4)
Dwelling as The Beatles were in Hamburg? (6)
I set today's Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day!
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
Dwelling as The Beatles were in Hamburg? (6)
I set today's Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day!
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
Quick thing I gotta go do (4)
the sun is setting over the ocean with clouds in the sky .
Alt: a setting sun
media.tenor.com
October 1, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Quick thing I gotta go do (4)
Reposted by Steve Mossberg
Mel Taub, the former Puns and Anagrams constructor and prince of puns, has died at 97. Obit written by the incomparable Penelope Green.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/c...
Mel Taub, Creator of a Pun-Loving Puzzle, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
September 24, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Mel Taub, the former Puns and Anagrams constructor and prince of puns, has died at 97. Obit written by the incomparable Penelope Green.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/c...
Me today:
Wishes for a sweet new year, and has at nova spread (5,4)
Wishes for a sweet new year, and has at nova spread (5,4)
September 23, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Me today:
Wishes for a sweet new year, and has at nova spread (5,4)
Wishes for a sweet new year, and has at nova spread (5,4)