Cryptic Crosswords for Beginners with Mark

To the uninitiated Cryptic Crosswords can seem impossible – best left to geniuses and people with too much time on their hands.

Yet once taught the basics, you will find them addictive, satisfying and surprisingly accessible.

After attending this class you will have all the tools needed to tackle any cryptic clue.

And with a little extra practice you will soon be smugly finishing The Age puzzle over coffee while your friends look on in awe and/or disgust.

What will we cover?

All cryptic crossword clues are elaborations on a few core rules. In this class, we’ll cover these core rules and showcase what inventive means crossword setters use so that they conceal the fact that they are indeed following the rules.

We will look at at a few cryptic crosswords from different setters. That way, you can see the importance of an individual setter’s style and come to appreciate a wider variety of clues.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair Accessibility Venue
• Quiet Spaces
• Free Tickets for First Nation Attendees
• Auslan Interpreter Upon Request 
• Gender Neutral Bathrooms

Who will be teaching?

Mark Gregory (he/him) is no natural word whizz. But after learning how to do cryptic crosswords 12 years ago from fellow Laneway Learning co-founder, Tom, Mark is keen to share the joys of sitting down to a cryptic over a coffee on a weekend morning.

Mark has spent his life applying his science-inclined problem solving mind to word games, mainly to the annoyance of his brother of far superior literary and vocabulary skills.

When he is not sipping coffee with the Saturday Paper, he's often reliving his chemistry PhD days in the kitchen, playing drums, or exploring the great outdoors.

Important info:

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FAQ

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Photo by Nick Olejniczak via Flickr

Any other questions or ways we can assist with accessibility? Just shoot Maddy (she/her) an email at melbourne@lanewaylearning.com