Writers Bloc: Spelling Bee with Sam Ezersky, The Digital Puzzles Editor for the New York Times | November 21

Tuesday, November 21, 2023 — 7:30 pm

In a perfect world, “nice” is good. And experts might argue that “nice” should be more than good enough. But in the land of the New York Times Spelling Bee, “nice” just doesn’t cut it. So, if you’re a Bee, what’s good enough for you? Great? Amazing? Or must you be certified as a genius, or even a Queen Bee? Trust us, we understand your inability to walk away from merely “great.” Do you love–or loathe–the cruelly opaque hints on Spelling Bee Buddy? Oh, and what about those words that we know are legitimate, found in a hundred different dictionaries, but for some mysterious reason, aren’t acceptable to the powers that bee?

These are all extremely pressing questions in today’s stressful world. We need answers. Sam Ezersky, the Digital Puzzles Editor of the New York Times, will discuss words, puzzles, fans, the challenges of constructing, and more. He knows his way around Wordle and Connections, and is a crossword enthusiast.

We have Sam to thank for seemingly endless hours spent on those New York Times word games. He’s responsible for editing and creating content for Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, The Crossword and other Times Games projects. He has been making crosswords professionally since he was 16 years old, with more than 50 puzzles published in The Times to date – his specialty is a tough Saturday challenge.