[wirthjason]

This makes me curious, how are crossword puzzles made? Clues -> words? Or working backwards from words to clues? Some blend of the two?

[banana_giraffe]

The crossword writer I've seen discuss it, generally start with theme words, then fill in the rest of the words, then work on clues.

Then an editor will refine the clues to fit whatever criteria they may have for publication.

[ygra]

There was a video next to the article for me that discussed exactly that ... https://youtu.be/aAqQnXHd7qk