I have a newsletter about words, a podcast (@BSCCPodcast) about romance and more words on Medium. Formerly Editorial Director @BuzzFeed. jackashepherd @ gmail
Joined February 2008
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24 Jul 2022
Today I am launching a newsletter about words, word games, and especially #cryptic #crossword puzzles! onwords.substack.com/
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Very pleased to be making my Independent debut with a themed crossword today! Sample clues:
Drunk has wine and joint (6)
Internet regard collie's last wag (1-4)
A prayer with wings? Bro, it's poetic (6)
puzzles.independent.co.uk/ga…
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15 Oct 2024
Extremely dangerous Wordling out there today, folks. I've never seen a percentage this low.
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7 Sep 2024
I have a fun new themed #cryptic #crossword puzzle up on MyCrossword today! 🧐🏁🤯
Sample clues:
‣ X may be tearing us apart? (9)
‣ Faux fact? Orwell describes it (1-6)
‣ Answer: "X" is one! (4)
mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/19…
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22 Jul 2024
"What can be, unburdened by what has been" is literal coconut tree talk. You exist in the context of what came before you.
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22 Jul 2024
Count me in either way obviously, but someone needs to sort this out.
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9 Jul 2024
Hi #cryptic #crossword people! I have a new puzzle in dire need of a quick test solve before I release it into the world. If you're feeling generous and in a test-solvey frame of mind, my DMs are open. Thank you! 🙏
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Jack Shepherd 🦑 retweeted
21 May 2024
I set today’s cryptic crossword in the Independent. puzzles.independent.co.uk/ga…
I hope you enjoy!
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19 Apr 2024
Checking in to see if we're all having a treasured monocultural moment about the big Cloud Nothings album drop today.
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27 Jan 2024
I have a fun new themed #cryptic #crossword puzzle up on MyCrossword today! 🕺🪩🥳
Sample clues:
‣ A man used a potty too much (2,7)
‣ Cases and cases of tofu burritos (4)
‣ Elon's first social network to retweet piece-of-s*** bullies for money (7)
mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/15…
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Jack Shepherd 🦑 retweeted
18 Jan 2024
Our new book, The Truce, is coming next week. It’s generated some news, and I’m confident it’ll make some more. But you’ll never get what we wrote from news summaries. I hope you’ll read it.
Preorder: wwnorton.com/books/978132402…
Or come to the launch event: powerhousearena.com/events/b…
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21 Jan 2024
Here's one for the Oxford Comma-heads. I'm going deep on serial comma history and controversy on the newsletter this week.
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2 Dec 2023
I'm back in the game with a fun new themed #cryptic #crossword puzzle up on MyCrossword! 🎉🥳
Sample clues:
‣ Tests acrobatic sex in the morning? On the contrary! (5)
‣ Obscure British lads undersold records initially (4)
‣ Shy performers (4)
mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/14…
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Jack Shepherd 🦑 retweeted
Taking accountability
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16 Jul 2023
Goblins. They're everywhere, it turns out. I've uncovered a few for this week's newsletter.
onwords.substack.com/p/5-com…
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10 Jun 2023
A truly monumental day. I'd like to thank my mom, the Academy, and I guess Josh Wardle.
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31 May 2023
Absolutely crazy that they're called The Spice Girls but Ginger is the only spice.
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30 Apr 2023
This week – Ben Franklin's greatest accomplishment: "The Drinker's Dictionary." onwords.substack.com/p/ben-f…
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Jack Shepherd 🦑 retweeted
27 Apr 2023
It is still April and still #AutismAcceptanceMonth. Here is this week's puzzle: mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/11…
I hope you enjoy!
Top 40 on the radio (5)
Lying about new Independent cryptic setter's activities (9)
Iron Man, Captain Marvel or Scarlet Witch, maybe (6)
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25 Apr 2023
One of the most dangerous Wordles all time today, I believe.
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