- I have a hardcore mentality when it comes to puzzles and games. If I feel it was worth starting something, it's worth finishing it - otherwise my time was wasted and I didn't let myself learn anything. There's no satisfaction in giving up. If I need to put a puzzle on pause and pick it up again later, so be it. If I make a mistake and can't seem to easily fix it, I bite the proverbial bullet and give my Mars Plastic a good exercise. Yes, I erase the whole thing and start over if that's what it takes. (It doesn't take as long the second time through. Not even close.) If I successfully solve a puzzle after an escapade like that, it's that much more rewarding to finish, and I'll be that much less likely to repeat that mistake. I told you all that so that I could tell you this: when I build a puzzle, I build it so that I'd enjoy it if I were solving it. If I think it's lame, I trash it and rebuild. I have hardcore solvers in mind when I compose; it would appear that you are not one of them. I would hope to inspire you to greater appreciation of the art and build your skill, but I'm not out to please everyone and am willing to accept that you're not my target demographic if that is how it must be. (That quality/quantity thing goes for a lot of things for me, including people.) I don't mean to offend; I'm simply being honest and practical.
- It's one puzzle. Out of fifteen. And it will likely be another fourteen puzzles after that one that I make another substantial one, unless I have a Change of Heart (why I capitalized that is left as an exercise to the reader). I'm not announcing a policy change; I'm just giving a friendly warning that I'm not holding back on the next one. I can't let myself be restrained all the time.
I am making Puzzle 15 a size that I would consider substantial. Others may well think it enormous and want to skip it, and that's their prerogative. But if there's just one person that perseveres, solves it, and enjoys the experience, then I'm beyond satisfied. I'm not trying to please everyone - the most popular puzzle on the planet, the crossword, is something you'll likely never see me make. I'm trying to satisfy my own creative urges here in my journal, and I'm honored that others appreciate my work. I figured it was about time that they got to see what I'm really capable of with a sizeable canvas. From your description, this coming puzzle is not for you; I'm thinking of the person that figures it takes longer to get the puzzles printed out than it does to solve them and is looking for something actually worth the time and effort. I want to make one worthy of a professional. I want to prove it to myself. It just so happens that I'm willing to share. If you don't care to experience it yourself, well, as I said on day one, just ignore it and maybe it'll go away. - ZM
Re: but I like small puzzles...
- I have a hardcore mentality when it comes to puzzles and games. If I feel it was worth starting something, it's worth finishing it - otherwise my time was wasted and I didn't let myself learn anything. There's no satisfaction in giving up. If I need to put a puzzle on pause and pick it up again later, so be it. If I make a mistake and can't seem to easily fix it, I bite the proverbial bullet and give my Mars Plastic a good exercise. Yes, I erase the whole thing and start over if that's what it takes. (It doesn't take as long the second time through. Not even close.) If I successfully solve a puzzle after an escapade like that, it's that much more rewarding to finish, and I'll be that much less likely to repeat that mistake. I told you all that so that I could tell you this: when I build a puzzle, I build it so that I'd enjoy it if I were solving it. If I think it's lame, I trash it and rebuild. I have hardcore solvers in mind when I compose; it would appear that you are not one of them. I would hope to inspire you to greater appreciation of the art and build your skill, but I'm not out to please everyone and am willing to accept that you're not my target demographic if that is how it must be. (That quality/quantity thing goes for a lot of things for me, including people.) I don't mean to offend; I'm simply being honest and practical.
- It's one puzzle. Out of fifteen. And it will likely be another fourteen puzzles after that one that I make another substantial one, unless I have a Change of Heart (why I capitalized that is left as an exercise to the reader). I'm not announcing a policy change; I'm just giving a friendly warning that I'm not holding back on the next one. I can't let myself be restrained all the time.
I am making Puzzle 15 a size that I would consider substantial. Others may well think it enormous and want to skip it, and that's their prerogative. But if there's just one person that perseveres, solves it, and enjoys the experience, then I'm beyond satisfied. I'm not trying to please everyone - the most popular puzzle on the planet, the crossword, is something you'll likely never see me make. I'm trying to satisfy my own creative urges here in my journal, and I'm honored that others appreciate my work. I figured it was about time that they got to see what I'm really capable of with a sizeable canvas. From your description, this coming puzzle is not for you; I'm thinking of the person that figures it takes longer to get the puzzles printed out than it does to solve them and is looking for something actually worth the time and effort. I want to make one worthy of a professional. I want to prove it to myself. It just so happens that I'm willing to share. If you don't care to experience it yourself, well, as I said on day one, just ignore it and maybe it'll go away. - ZM