Continuing our series for those tempted or daunted by cryptics, five ‘writers’ to keep in mind
In the example clues below, I explain the two parts of each one: there is a definition of the answer and there is some wordplay – a recipe for assembling its letters. In a genuine puzzle environment, of course, you also have the crossing letters, which should alleviate your solving load. Hence “crossword”. Also, the setters’ names tend to link to profiles of the individuals behind the pseudonyms.
“I’m stuck on the top left-hand corner,” complains fictional commuter Reggie Perrin. “I just don’t know any Bolivian poets.”
5dUS author twitching, using words rhythmically? (6)
[ wordplay: surname of US author + synonym for ‘twitching’ (as a noun) ]
[ POE + TIC ]
[ definition: using words rhythmically? ]