Don't mess with the puzzles.
Seriously.
Plenty of readers buy the newspaper for the puzzles; the fact that they get their daily dose of news is secondary in their opinion.
Crossword puzzle fans, especially, like their puzzles a certain way. The problem is, they don't always agree on what that should be. Some want the clues to wrap around the puzzle. Others want them above or below the puzzle.
Then there are those who want our puzzles to be easy. More readers, however, want them to be harder - especially the Sudoku fans.
If for some reason there's a mistake in a puzzle, or in the clues, or they can't find the answers, watch out. Our phones will ring off the hook for at least 24 hours. Letters will pour in for a week.
Cancel an old puzzle and try something new? Not the best idea.
Keep all the current puzzles and add something new? Great idea, but make sure it's the right size, in the right place, at the right challenge level, and make it BIG enough to accommodate readers of all ages.
We do work hard to keep puzzle fans happy. But many days it feels like walking a tightrope.
Seriously.
