How to write great word search word lists
The puzzle grid is made by the computer, but the word list is yours, and it is what makes a word search fun or boring. A few simple rules make a big difference.
Keep a clear theme
Every word in a list should obviously belong to its theme. "Kitchen tools" with WHISK, LADLE, and SPATULA is satisfying to solve. A random mix of words feels like filler.
Use 15 to 25 words
Fewer than about 12 words makes a puzzle that is over too quickly. More than 30 crowds the grid and the word list. For large print books, 15 to 20 is a good target.
Mix word lengths
A good list has a few long words, many medium words, and a few short ones. Very long words need bigger grids. Very short words, like ANT or SUN, often appear by accident in the random letters, so use them sparingly.
Watch for words inside other words
If your list has both PEAR and SPEAR, or APPLE and PINEAPPLE, players can find the short word in two places. This is common in puzzle books and not a real error, but you can avoid it by keeping only one of the pair. The puzzle book maker shows a tip when this happens.
Spelling and names
Check spelling carefully, since a misspelled word is a mistake readers notice. Use the spelling your readers expect, for example COLOR in a book for the United States and COLOUR for the United Kingdom. Avoid brand names and character names you do not have the right to use.
Write them in one place
Keep your lists in a document or spreadsheet, then paste them into the tool. Start each list with a line like # Ocean animals and put --- on its own line between lists.
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