Does anyone like to do word searches?

monster · 10-25-2018, 08:49 PM

My MIL has started doing them so I make them for her occasionally, 'cause I love to play with words and she seems to like it when I do that. I just don't enjoy word searches because I don't see the point as I'm a logical computer-brain type person so there's no real challenge to me.

When creating them, I really have no idea what I'm doing. I like to cram in as many words as physically possible, and lots of long/interesting ones, but I avoid words with rarer letters/unusual letter combinations unless there's more than one like it (I once did one where all words had "aa" in them)

But I know that doesn't necessarily make the best puzzle. Especially as I have no idea why people actually enjoy them. I try to get an equal split of directions (with maybe an under-representation of left-to-right because that's too easy and dull).

What makes a wordsearch fun? what makes one more challenging than another? What makes them suck?

My most recent was a 15*15 of popular trick-or-treat halloween costumes (and a few more unusual), where I repeated the most popular a few times (e.g. Elsa, Batman) ...and then filled the small leftover spaces with short named costumes wherever possible for fun. And then searched for any accidental occurrences of such things and added them in to the find list.

It was actually trickier than usual when I tested it

But I'm not sure if that makes it good or it was just way past my bedtime and beer limit

Gravdigr · 10-26-2018, 12:45 AM

I'll do the occasional word search. As a time killer.

I like the ones where ya don't get a list of words but a list of clues...like "three mammals that start with 'P'", or "The Beatles _____, _____, ______, and _______".

Dude111 · 10-26-2018, 06:59 AM

I like them but im not very paitent!!

lumberjim · 10-26-2018, 12:02 PM

Amanda buys books of them

Gravdigr · 10-26-2018, 12:29 PM

I used to know a girl who used those find-a-word puzzle books as a disassociation from the surrounding world. I mean, she was inside those books (absorbed, even) almost all the time. She was...let's say a little off center.

I bet she still is. Inside those books I mean.

Happy Monkey · 10-26-2018, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

I'll do the occasional word search. As a time killer.

I like the ones where ya don't get a list of words but a list of clues...like "three mammals that start with 'P'", or "The Beatles _____, _____, ______, and _______".

Good ol' USA Today. Not great with the news, but a nice page of stuff to do on airplanes.

Clodfobble · 10-26-2018, 06:52 PM

Monster, do you use a program to make them, or what?

monster · 10-26-2018, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Monster, do you use a program to make them, or what?

no, there'd be no fun in that!

Clodfobble · 10-26-2018, 08:21 PM

So they're hand-written?

monster · 10-26-2018, 09:20 PM

Oh, I just use Excel. Sorry I thought you meant a program to hide the words!

I save as PDF so she can easily print and share with her friends.

monster · 10-26-2018, 11:14 PM

There ya go

Name: DwellarWordSearch.png
Views: 331
Size: 103.6 KB

apologies for image quality, computer wants restart before opening acrobat and I refuse to be bullied in that way....

Clodfobble · 10-27-2018, 01:25 PM

Usernames! I love it!

monster · 10-27-2018, 01:31 PM

and more....

lumberjim · 10-27-2018, 01:36 PM

You're awesome. I'm right up top!

monster · 10-27-2018, 01:37 PM

yeah....but backwards

10-25-2018, 08:49 PM	#1
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Does anyone like to do word searches? My MIL has started doing them so I make them for her occasionally, 'cause I love to play with words and she seems to like it when I do that. I just don't enjoy word searches because I don't see the point as I'm a logical computer-brain type person so there's no real challenge to me. When creating them, I really have no idea what I'm doing. I like to cram in as many words as physically possible, and lots of long/interesting ones, but I avoid words with rarer letters/unusual letter combinations unless there's more than one like it (I once did one where all words had "aa" in them) But I know that doesn't necessarily make the best puzzle. Especially as I have no idea why people actually enjoy them. I try to get an equal split of directions (with maybe an under-representation of left-to-right because that's too easy and dull). What makes a wordsearch fun? what makes one more challenging than another? What makes them suck? My most recent was a 1515 of popular trick-or-treat halloween costumes (and a few more unusual), where I repeated the most popular a few times (e.g. Elsa, Batman) ...and then filled the small leftover spaces with short named costumes wherever possible for fun. And then searched for any accidental occurrences of such things and added them in to the find list. It was actually trickier than usual when I tested it But I'm not sure if that makes it good or it was just way past my bedtime and beer limit __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart*

10-26-2018, 12:45 AM	#2
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	I'll do the occasional word search. As a time killer. I like the ones where ya don't get a list of words but a list of clues...like "three mammals that start with 'P'", or "The Beatles _____, _____, ______, and _______". __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

10-26-2018, 12:02 PM	#4
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	Amanda buys books of them __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

10-26-2018, 12:29 PM	#5
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	I used to know a girl who used those find-a-word puzzle books as a disassociation from the surrounding world. I mean, she was inside those books (absorbed, even) almost all the time. She was...let's say a little off center. I bet she still is. Inside those books I mean. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

10-26-2018, 06:52 PM	#7
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Monster, do you use a program to make them, or what? __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

10-26-2018, 06:59 AM	#3
Dude111 An Awesome Dude Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 1,111	I like them but im not very paitent!!

10-26-2018, 08:21 PM	#9
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	So they're hand-written? __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

10-26-2018, 09:20 PM	#10
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Oh, I just use Excel. Sorry I thought you meant a program to hide the words! I save as PDF so she can easily print and share with her friends. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-26-2018, 11:14 PM	#11
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	There ya go apologies for image quality, computer wants restart before opening acrobat and I refuse to be bullied in that way.... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-27-2018, 01:25 PM	#12
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Usernames! I love it! __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

10-27-2018, 01:31 PM	#13
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	and more.... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-27-2018, 01:36 PM	#14
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	You're awesome. I'm right up top! __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

10-27-2018, 01:37 PM	#15
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	yeah....but backwards __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

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