iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Carina @carinadarosa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

If there were ever a perfect time to make my debut at @avcx.bsky.social, it’d be my birthday. Cake and crosswords, what else does a bday girl want? avxwords.com

avxwords.com

AVCX – Crosswords for the (not) faint of heart.

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Joe McVeigh @eviljoemcveigh.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Here's a flat adverb appearing in the @avcx.bsky.social crossword. What a great clue.

Picture shows a crossword grid.
Clue: Fast, perhaps (but not rapid)
Answer: Adverb

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

We’ve been getting emails asking if we accept AI-generated crossword submissions; we certainly don’t and won’t. I guess we’ll have to put this in our spec sheet now? Strange times.

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

This week’s AVCX Classic crossword, by Geoffrey Schorkopf and Adam Wagner, is one of the cleverest puzzles in recent memory, and it’s 21x21 sized as well. You can solve it now with a subscription from avxwords.com (including with a free trial).

avxwords.com

AVCX – Crosswords for the (not) faint of heart.

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Jon @phyrkrakr.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Gonna go ahead and shout out my favorite crosswords, from @avcx.bsky.social and BEQ, www.brendanemmettquigley.com

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Interview with AVCX editor Ben Tausig @burrata.bsky.social (among other puzzle editors) in a lengthy feature about crosswords in today’s Indian Express! Love seeing coverage of puzzles in a South Asian outlet and the author did her research for sure. indianexpress.com/article/expr...

indianexpress.com

Why we can’t stop solving puzzles — and why AI still can’t set them

Meet the setters behind the toughest crossword clues, the art of the perfect ‘aha’ moment, and why technology is not yet a formidable rival to the human mind

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

This is a special puzzle. The genre of “dark crosswords” hasn’t actually been done too often, and Nate (who is a serious talent) nails it here on a personal topic, which is usually the thing that makes these kinds of puzzles hit. I appreciated it. It’s art is what it is.

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Just thinking maybe, perhaps, possibly, it’s time to stop putting JK Rowling things in the crossword puzzle

A crossword with the clue “Fifth-year student leader at Hogwarts”

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Just thinking maybe, perhaps, possibly, it’s time to stop putting JK Rowling things in the crossword puzzle

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

This reminds me that I discovered a series of Thai-language crosswords when I was going through 1980s gay skin mags from scholar Benedict Anderson’s personal papers. The letters aren’t fully checked, so they got around the diacritic crossing issue. I sent these to Will Shortz, he was amused.

A Thai language crossword in มรกต magazine

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Avery Pattullo @luciapattullo.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Now I'm wondering whether anyone has ever made an International Phonetic Alphabet crossword. It would take care of the all diacritic/accent mark issues, but I imagine you'd have people coming at you with dialectal difference pitchforks, particularly for vowels (e.g., the /pɛn/ - /pIn/ divide)

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Joel Calahan @joelcalahan.com · 31/07/2026

Come hear my noise duo play at Constellation in support of our debut EP, Acapulco Anus.

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

AVCX crosswords *do not* treat the letter N as equivalent to Ñ (bc they are different). If you’ve got NIÑO going across, it can’t be PIANO down, it has to be ARAÑA etc. And if you have ANO in the grid, it’s getting clued as “Acapulco Anus,” not “Spanish year.” Need to put this in our spec sheet

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maggie schreiter @squishythings.com · 30/07/2026

if you’re a crossword kinda player @avcx.bsky.social and its various offshoots are for you

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

New one dropping from Kevin Shustack tonight, called “Opening Wrappers”… it’s a theme you won’t find in mainstream outlets, that’s for sure. We hope you love it. Subscribe, free trial, come get it: Avxwords.com

avxwords.com

AVCX – Crosswords for the (not) faint of heart.

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Mx. Tiffany Leigh @tiffanyleigh.northsky.social · 25/07/2026

bsky.app/profile/avcx...

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Katherine Thorne @sparklemarkers.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Here's a cool thing I've been involved with: this week's Raddle is a collaboration with the AVCX folks! There's a puzzle by a different AVCX creator every day and a meta-puzzle for the week (with a prize!): raddle.quest

raddle.quest

Raddle — Word transformation game

A daily word game by Sandy Weisz

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

This means a lot, thank you!

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Thanks to everyone who’s signed up for an AVCX subscription or free trial since the Raddle meta started! We’ll never complain about having a couple hundred new solvers in a week. Avxwords.com

avxwords.com

AVCX – Crosswords for the (not) faint of heart.

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Some sickos have solved the meta after just two days … you guys … Anyways, hope you’re enjoying Day 2 of our (relatively easy) meta. If you haven’t played Raddle yet, click through below, it’s good fun.

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

AVCX is running a guest series of Raddle puzzles this week (if you’re not yet familiar with the game, go check it out). And in fact, there’s a meta puzzle if you solve through the end of the week. Fun stuff!! raddle.quest/mystery/10/

raddle.quest

Mystery Theme #10

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

raddle.quest

Mystery Theme #10

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Fun puzzle coming to you tonight from Sala Wanetick, titled “This Is Fine.” Sign up for AVCX if haven’t already at avxwords.com, and help support independent puzzles and games of the very highest caliber.

avxwords.com

AVCX – Crosswords for the (not) faint of heart.

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

avxwords.com

AVCX – Crosswords for the (not) faint of heart.

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Brian Callahan @oliogrids.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Excited to debut at @avcxtrivia.bsky.social! If you're not already an @avcx.bsky.social subscriber (which, why aren't you?!?), you can get the puzzle for $1 here: avxwords.com/puzzles/2078/

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Kate Jensen’s lil AVCX, which went out last night, is getting feedback like this: “OK this was like the best ever” “these puzzles are getting more and more interesting!” “Wow that is some impressive [redacted] action!” “Holy cow, that was amazing!” Solve it now with a free trial now—Avxwords.com

avxwords.com

AVCX – Crosswords for the (not) faint of heart.

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

We still get nice messages from people who remember solving Ink Well in the @chicagoreader.com back in the 2000s. One of the best gigs with one of the best solverships ever. Always appreciate when people trace the line forward to present day AVCX, which is the same general idea.

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These Puzzles Fund Abortion @tpfa.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

THAT’S A WRAP! We raised over $38K this year! Thank you to everyone for your generous contributions! 💜 This means we raised over $7.6K for each of the 5 funds we support! @iwrising.bsky.social @chiabortionfund.bsky.social @abortionfundmd.bsky.social Tampa Bay Abortion Fund OurJustice 💜

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Classic is officially at capacity for submissions for the May-June cycle. Thanks to everyone who sent stuff — we’re reviewing all pitches now. Sorry to have to close up at a certain point. We only have so many slots in a year, and we do this to avoid a backlog.

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Benjamin Tausig @burrata.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Manny Nosowsky was a generational crossword talent and really encouraging to me (and other new constructors) in the '00s. Sorry to hear of his passing. This obit from @debamlen.bsky.social really clearly shows why he was such a great clue-writer. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/24/u...

nytimes.com

Manny Nosowsky, Whose Wordplay Enlivened Times Crosswords, Dies at 94

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These Puzzles Fund Abortion @tpfa.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

✨Editor Spotlight✨ @burrata.bsky.social (he/him) is an editor of @avcx.bsky.social. He is based in Queens, NY, and is honored to be part of TPFA once again. Ben edited “Round These Parts” (grid shown here) by @fabioethics.bsky.social and @rebecculous.bsky.social! fund.nnaf.org/tpfa6

A 15x15 crossword grid with rotational symmetry. Several squares have circles in them.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

The subject for this go-round is @avcx.bsky.social, from Jan.'s @jessshulman.bsky.social to last month's @norahsharpe.bsky.social and @tlmberwolves.bsky.social. Really looking forward to drilling into the differences between difficulty and constructor style under the AVCX banner!

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

We’ve gotten a record number of submissions in the first two days of this cycle - more than 30 already. We have room for about 80 submissions total per cycle (we ultimately accept about 25%).

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

AVCX Classic is open for submissions as of today! We love seeing work from everybody, especially new constructors and underrepresented people. WE CARE ABOUT DIVERSITY also always happy to workshop your stuff with you if helpful. Spec sheet: avxwords.com/submit-a-puz...

avxwords.com

Submit a Puzzle – AVCX

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

I dreamt of a new word last night. The word was STRYLLANA, and it appeared fully defined as “the IT information gleaned from the first ten seconds of drinking a beer.” I don’t know.

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Jess Shulman @jessshulman.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Honoured to have the first AVCX cryptic clue featured in Parseword be one of mine! Kinda wild.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

I'd love to give my complaints about clue quality some credit for this, but honestly, I'm just happy they're responding and going to the AVCX, because they do great work, and I think that's a step in the absolute right direction.

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Alex Wein @alexwein.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

It hasn't really converted me into a cryptics appreciator (yet), but I've been doing Parseword every day and find it plenty charming.

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Emily @themerriest.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

I guess in my heart I always knew they'd find a secret way to get me into cryptics.

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Exciting news! On a trial basis for now, AVCX will be providing cryptic clues to Parseword, a new daily game from Josh Wardle (of Wordle fame). Starting this Saturday with work from @jessshulman.bsky.social Give it a try… www.parseword.com

parseword.com

Parseword - A tricky wordplay game

Transform phrases through wordplay to solve cryptic crossword puzzles.

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

AVCX is hiring a part-time marketing assistant for the summer! Please email support @avxwords.com for more details, if interested. Thank you!!

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

AVCX is hiring a part-time marketing assistant for the summer! Please email support @avxwords.com for more details, if interested. Thank you!!

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Thanks to everyone who solved last week’s @francisheaney.bsky.social meta! The AI theme was a prelude to announcing that not only is AVCX not employing a puzzle construction bot, but that in fact we’re giving raises to all features soon. Thanks for supporting the humans who make great puzzles.

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Just finished 12th(!) out of 600ish solvers in my divisions (138th out of 800ish overall) at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament 🤯🏆 #acpt Such a great weekend filled with tremendously lovely humans! 💕

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

#ACPT is roughly the most wholesome event in the world, at its best. There’s a 100 year old solver competing. So much honor system going in the rules. Nothing at stake but fun

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