Field Notes
Plain-language notes on solving smarter: word search strategy, hidden-object tips and choosing the right puzzle book, written for people who puzzle for fun.
Field Notes
Sudoku basics: the scanning method for your first grid
Sudoku can look intimidating, but every puzzle follows three simple rules: each row, each column and each three-by-three box must contain the numbers 1 to 9 exactly on...
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How to pace a 100-puzzle book so you never burn out
A new puzzle book with a hundred puzzles is exciting. It is also easy to rush through twenty in the first weekend and then never pick it up again. A little pacing keep...
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Pencil, pen or highlighter: marking a word search the right way
It sounds trivial, but how you mark your answers changes how easy the rest of the puzzle becomes. Here is a quick guide to the three common choices. Pencil: the safe d...
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Using a magnifying bookmark without losing your place
A flat magnifying bookmark is one of the most useful tools for hidden object scenes and small print. It doubles as a page marker and a lens, but used carelessly it can...
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Diagonal words: how to spot the hardest direction in a grid
Horizontal and vertical words are easy to find because our eyes already read in those directions. Diagonals are different. They cut across the grid at an angle our bra...
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How to solve a hidden object scene: work in quadrants
Most people attack a hidden object scene by letting their eyes roam the whole page. It works for the easy finds, but the last few objects always seem to vanish. The fi...
Read more →Puzzles, in plain language.
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