Sally Hoelscher
@sallyhoelscher.bsky.social
Crossword puzzle constructor, editor (Lil AVC X), and blogger (USATXW), cat lover, mug aficionado, she/her
https://usatodayxwordblog.blogspot.com/?m=1
https://usatodayxwordblog.blogspot.com/?m=1
Check this out!
Lil AVCX's roster call is still open for another week! It's the perfect time to get brainstorming on a puzzle for your application.
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Lil AVCX: Call for applications for our 2026 constructor roster
Lil AVCX: Call for applications for our 2026 constructor roster We’re looking for new and emerging crossword puzzle constructors to regularly contribute “midi” puzzles. Yes, you’ll get paid, and you ...
docs.google.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Check this out!
Calling all new constructors interested in mentorship and community!
Lil AVCX is looking for new and emerging constructors to be a part of our 2026 constructing roster. Deadline for applications is November 14, 2025. Here's the information: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Lil AVCX: Call for applications for our 2026 constructor roster
Lil AVCX: Call for applications for our 2026 constructor roster We’re looking for new and emerging crossword puzzle constructors to regularly contribute “midi” puzzles. Yes, you’ll get paid, and you ...
docs.google.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Calling all new constructors interested in mentorship and community!
Oh, hey 👋
The Lil AVCX roster has been making puzzles at a frenetic pace, so we decided to give them a bit of a break. In October, our 2025 editors will each contribute a puzzle. We kick off "Editor October" with a smooth-sailing 10x10 puzzle from Sally Hoelscher (@sallyhoelscher.bsky.social): "No Filter"
![Crossword puzzle with 20-Across highlighted: [Tiny taste of Twinings tea]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4yky6m7w7bd4kinepwyqjg5v/bafkreicxpfzkmqcmteqwc26b667v6utxofbhvewvdipa7k7jdk3wrmmroq@jpeg)
October 6, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Oh, hey 👋
It’s a great day for a crossword tournament! #midwestgridfest
October 4, 2025 at 12:16 PM
It’s a great day for a crossword tournament! #midwestgridfest
🥳
@sallyhoelscher.bsky.social and I with today’s USA Today crossword. We’ll only swipe a bit of your time.
My USAT debut too!
puzzles.usatoday.com
My USAT debut too!
puzzles.usatoday.com
Daily Crossword Puzzles | USA TODAY
Daily online crossword puzzles brought to you by USA TODAY. Start with your first free puzzle today and challenge yourself with a new crossword daily!
puzzles.usatoday.com
September 19, 2025 at 2:11 PM
🥳
This! There are so many reasons to support AVCX … and you get fabulous crossword content. Such a deal!
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 19, 2025 at 2:15 AM
This! There are so many reasons to support AVCX … and you get fabulous crossword content. Such a deal!
This is a fun puzzle if I do say so myself! 🛶
@sallyhoelscher.bsky.social and I are 🌊 making waves 🌊 with today's USA Today crossword. Check it out here: puzzles.usatoday.com
September 9, 2025 at 3:31 PM
This is a fun puzzle if I do say so myself! 🛶
Do you have an AVCX subscription? If not, what are you waiting for?!?!
Last winter, AVCX ran a subscription drive to continue funding our expanded puzzle offerings. It worked great! We won’t need to do anything at that scale this year.
But we will run a mini-drive this fall to keep the old budget stable. So if you like what we do, please spread the word!
But we will run a mini-drive this fall to keep the old budget stable. So if you like what we do, please spread the word!
September 2, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Do you have an AVCX subscription? If not, what are you waiting for?!?!
Reposted by Sally Hoelscher
Hey look, it's Lil member Katie and Lil graduates Lydia and Christina! Congratulations!!!
We're beyond thrilled to present puzzles by this fantastic set of constructors at the second Midwest Crossword Tournament, October 4, 2025 in Chicago! Read more about them and register now at midwestgridfest.com
August 6, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Hey look, it's Lil member Katie and Lil graduates Lydia and Christina! Congratulations!!!
Reposted by Sally Hoelscher
Put on your dancing shoes! Tonight we have an 11x12 puzzle by roster member Carina da Rosa (@carinadarosa.bsky.social) called "Sorry, Patrick Swayze, But I Put Baby in the Corner."
![Crossword puzzle with 1-Down highlighted: [If this Jewish
deli bread were a game of Bop It, you might: Roll it! Fill it! Twist it! Braid it!] (5 letters)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4yky6m7w7bd4kinepwyqjg5v/bafkreigclo4p7yrkyfhxqmfsrt4domjtrxhsgxgioaidbnsmfs5weklfgu@jpeg)
August 18, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Put on your dancing shoes! Tonight we have an 11x12 puzzle by roster member Carina da Rosa (@carinadarosa.bsky.social) called "Sorry, Patrick Swayze, But I Put Baby in the Corner."
Come join us in Chicago and solve great puzzles by these folks!
We're beyond thrilled to present puzzles by this fantastic set of constructors at the second Midwest Crossword Tournament, October 4, 2025 in Chicago! Read more about them and register now at midwestgridfest.com
August 6, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Come join us in Chicago and solve great puzzles by these folks!
Reposted by Sally Hoelscher
We predict that you will get much enjoyment from Ben Wilson's (@zerofiftyone.bsky.social) newest 11x11 puzzle, titled "These Books Are Worth a Fortune," in which Ben has embedded some sneaky extras for keen-eyed solvers.
![Crossword puzzle with 22-down highlighted: [Musical instrument responsible for the phrase "pull out all the stops"] (five letters)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4yky6m7w7bd4kinepwyqjg5v/bafkreiedvg376e2k2mmhozigrvjz5hnk7qeilje3deijgtbcsfvdwtlm2i@jpeg)
August 4, 2025 at 12:30 AM
We predict that you will get much enjoyment from Ben Wilson's (@zerofiftyone.bsky.social) newest 11x11 puzzle, titled "These Books Are Worth a Fortune," in which Ben has embedded some sneaky extras for keen-eyed solvers.
Reposted by Sally Hoelscher
[extreme, exasperated sigh]
I know I know … try @avcx.bsky.social it’s daily (weekdays) and it rules
I like the Apple daily xword as well (top-tier people involved there)
I know I know … try @avcx.bsky.social it’s daily (weekdays) and it rules
I like the Apple daily xword as well (top-tier people involved there)
can somebody please make a good crossword app so my friends can stop funding this rag
You know, when I heard that all of our personal data had been hacked, I didn't expect the first major use of it to be the NYT trying to fuck over Zohran but maybe I'm naive www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/n...
July 4, 2025 at 11:12 AM
[extreme, exasperated sigh]
I know I know … try @avcx.bsky.social it’s daily (weekdays) and it rules
I like the Apple daily xword as well (top-tier people involved there)
I know I know … try @avcx.bsky.social it’s daily (weekdays) and it rules
I like the Apple daily xword as well (top-tier people involved there)
Iowa City showed up. Even those of us who would have rather been at home by ourselves
June 14, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Iowa City showed up. Even those of us who would have rather been at home by ourselves
Have you heard about this puzzle?
We're delighted to bring you the Lil AVCX debut of roster member Carina da Rosa (@carinadarosa.bsky.social), an 11x11 puzzle titled "Kitchen Confidential." We'll let you in on a secret; we think you'll find this to be an enjoyable, breezy solve.
![Crossword puzzle with 16-Across highlighted: [Theater attendant who says to me, "Ma'am, this is row 2. You're in 42"] (5 letters)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4yky6m7w7bd4kinepwyqjg5v/bafkreih53z2qgcqmvc6llw7f5u7wat4c7rjdbtum5lppxv6gcmcy6os7ia@jpeg)
June 3, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Have you heard about this puzzle?
Reposted by Sally Hoelscher
We're excited to share this delightful 11x11 puzzle by new Lil roster member Ben Wilson (@zerofiftyone.bsky.social), entitled "Stack of Pun-Cakes." We hope you'll be as tickled by this first peek into Ben's sneaky wordplay mind as we are.
![Crossword puzzle with 19-Down highlighted: [Punctuation mark frequently overused in AI-written essays]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4yky6m7w7bd4kinepwyqjg5v/bafkreid3ht7xnmarxaaygyxa45u35lmaoitpf3xhbff5rn2746y2uifpoa@jpeg)
May 26, 2025 at 12:30 AM
We're excited to share this delightful 11x11 puzzle by new Lil roster member Ben Wilson (@zerofiftyone.bsky.social), entitled "Stack of Pun-Cakes." We hope you'll be as tickled by this first peek into Ben's sneaky wordplay mind as we are.
Reposted by Sally Hoelscher
Want to hear a cool story about reproductive justice, mutual aid, and crossword puzzles?
Let me tell you about These Puzzles Fund Abortion (www.abortionpuzzles.com / @tpfa.bsky.social), a crossword puzzle fundraiser that has raised over $350,000 in five years for abortion funds.
1/9
Let me tell you about These Puzzles Fund Abortion (www.abortionpuzzles.com / @tpfa.bsky.social), a crossword puzzle fundraiser that has raised over $350,000 in five years for abortion funds.
1/9
these puzzles fund abortion
www.abortionpuzzles.com
May 9, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Want to hear a cool story about reproductive justice, mutual aid, and crossword puzzles?
Let me tell you about These Puzzles Fund Abortion (www.abortionpuzzles.com / @tpfa.bsky.social), a crossword puzzle fundraiser that has raised over $350,000 in five years for abortion funds.
1/9
Let me tell you about These Puzzles Fund Abortion (www.abortionpuzzles.com / @tpfa.bsky.social), a crossword puzzle fundraiser that has raised over $350,000 in five years for abortion funds.
1/9
Reposted by Sally Hoelscher
We're very excited to bring you the first puzzle from our 2025 roster of mentees. It's a 10x10 puzzle titled "Perfect Cubes" from Terry Sun, and we think you'll find it fresh and friendly!
![Crossword puzzle with 10-Down highlighted: [Quippy name for Washington, Oregon, and California] (9 letters)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4yky6m7w7bd4kinepwyqjg5v/bafkreihsjvj5vkxxhgm4ds7gttoebtds5y42nsqvsn5p5li7tc6grirtvi@jpeg)
May 5, 2025 at 12:30 AM
We're very excited to bring you the first puzzle from our 2025 roster of mentees. It's a 10x10 puzzle titled "Perfect Cubes" from Terry Sun, and we think you'll find it fresh and friendly!
There’s still time to support this fabulous cause and get puzzles made by wonderful constructors … and also one made by me 😉
✨Constructor Spotlight✨
Sally Hoelscher (she/her, @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social) is a crossword constructor, editor, & blogger. Sally lives in Iowa, a state that is crossword-friendly, but needs to work on reproductive justice.
Go to fund.nnaf.org/tpfa to get Sally’s puzzle and many more!
Sally Hoelscher (she/her, @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social) is a crossword constructor, editor, & blogger. Sally lives in Iowa, a state that is crossword-friendly, but needs to work on reproductive justice.
Go to fund.nnaf.org/tpfa to get Sally’s puzzle and many more!
April 20, 2025 at 8:41 PM
There’s still time to support this fabulous cause and get puzzles made by wonderful constructors … and also one made by me 😉
I made you a midi 😊
Solvers everywhere are flocking to today's midi crossword, an 11x12 puzzle called "Birds Down Under," another feather in the cap of Lil's own Sally Hoelscher (@sallyhoelscher.bsky.social) .
![Crossword puzzle with 9-Down highlighted: [Costume headgear that might be paired with a tail] (seven letters)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4yky6m7w7bd4kinepwyqjg5v/bafkreigw666edw25ghkrvbqbpctf7z6nzmkxzs4edgkwyjb5wrosg4hh7y@jpeg)
April 7, 2025 at 1:47 AM
I made you a midi 😊
Same! It must be important
It's so weird, I was mysteriously added to this top secret group chat and someone dropped a link to a site where you can donate money to abortion funds in exchange for crossword puzzles. Has this happened to anyone else??
fund.nnaf.org/campaign/the...
@tpfa.bsky.social
fund.nnaf.org/campaign/the...
@tpfa.bsky.social
March 26, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Same! It must be important
Reposted by Sally Hoelscher
✨Clue of the Week✨
Today’s clue comes from @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social !
If you love puzzles and reproductive justice, be sure to check us out at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa !
Today’s clue comes from @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social !
If you love puzzles and reproductive justice, be sure to check us out at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa !
March 24, 2025 at 5:19 PM
✨Clue of the Week✨
Today’s clue comes from @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social !
If you love puzzles and reproductive justice, be sure to check us out at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa !
Today’s clue comes from @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social !
If you love puzzles and reproductive justice, be sure to check us out at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa !
🥳
It's a Lil AVCX first! Tonight's 11x11 midi, by Lil roster alumni Lydia Roth and Christina Bodensiek, titled "Stop Repeating Yourself!" is a meta puzzle. After you fill this grid, solve the puzzle-within-the-puzzle to find a one-word meta answer.
![Crossword puzzle with 34-Across highlighted: [Flashy and fashionable -flashionable, if you will] (6 letters)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4yky6m7w7bd4kinepwyqjg5v/bafkreiausvk2dv2h26dlnjaixpw6immenqpnbcd75hhzt4ghobo22dzcxm@jpeg)
March 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM
🥳
Reposted by Sally Hoelscher
✨Constructor Spotlight✨
@darbyratliff.bsky.social (she/her) is a grad student/ constructor in STL, MO. She wishes that access to good gender-affirming healthcare was universally available to everyone. She’s thrilled to be on TPFA’s roster again.
Head to fund.nnaf.org/tpfa to solve Darby’s puzzle!
@darbyratliff.bsky.social (she/her) is a grad student/ constructor in STL, MO. She wishes that access to good gender-affirming healthcare was universally available to everyone. She’s thrilled to be on TPFA’s roster again.
Head to fund.nnaf.org/tpfa to solve Darby’s puzzle!
March 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM
✨Constructor Spotlight✨
@darbyratliff.bsky.social (she/her) is a grad student/ constructor in STL, MO. She wishes that access to good gender-affirming healthcare was universally available to everyone. She’s thrilled to be on TPFA’s roster again.
Head to fund.nnaf.org/tpfa to solve Darby’s puzzle!
@darbyratliff.bsky.social (she/her) is a grad student/ constructor in STL, MO. She wishes that access to good gender-affirming healthcare was universally available to everyone. She’s thrilled to be on TPFA’s roster again.
Head to fund.nnaf.org/tpfa to solve Darby’s puzzle!
Reposted by Sally Hoelscher
This week's puzzle is a breezy 11x11 called "Exposed Wood" from Lil AVCX alum Michael Berg. We think you'll enjoy its fun facts and happy vibes!
![Crossword with 22-Across highlighted: ["Hamster ___ and the Gooey Kablooie" (fictional children's book from "Calvin and Hobbes")] (4 letters)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4yky6m7w7bd4kinepwyqjg5v/bafkreid6wwobw6ed7mnwcjbuc3prf26tvo327bic2gqfd5rwj5efqvplte@jpeg)
March 3, 2025 at 2:00 AM
This week's puzzle is a breezy 11x11 called "Exposed Wood" from Lil AVCX alum Michael Berg. We think you'll enjoy its fun facts and happy vibes!