Acrostics

I have been doing acrostic puzzles http://www.thefreedictionary.com/acrostic since before I moved to Texas.  I know that because when I discovered acrostics, I went to a book store in Greenfield, and found a whole book of them.  I really enjoy acrostics, which are just a little more complex than crosswords.

But, because of their nature, they have more ways to be solved.  The acrostic is a puzzle block with blank and solid squares. Each blank square is identified by a letter and a number.  The clues are usually identified by a letter, and each blank in the clue is assigned a number.  When the clues are solved, the letter is transferred to the corresponding blank square.  Typically, reading down the clues, the first letter identifies an author and a piece of work by that author.

As the puzzle is being solved, patterns in the blank squares suggest a word, and those letters can be then transferred to the clues.

Sometimes I get stuck, and have to look up answers to help me.  I am always amazed that just one answer can open the door for the rest of the puzzle to be solved.

Sometimes, I think a lot of life is like that. We struggle with something, but then their is a key piece that helps us and everything else eventually falls into place.

Also, the acrostic lends itself to being a group effort.  Reading clues aloud, and sharing possible answers and parts of citations gets the creative juices going, and the group effort can solve the puzzle more easily, some times.

I like word puzzles. And acrostics are some of my favorites. So much so, that if I have not finished the current book I am working on, and I spy a new one, I buy it. Not second thoughts.