Choose a theme or topic
Decide the puzzle size and difficulty
Make a word list related to the theme
Select the main words to place first
Arrange the words so they intersect
Fill in the remaining empty squares with connecting words
Check that every word has a valid clue
Number the starting squares for across and down answers
Write clear clues for each word
Test the puzzle for accuracy and balance
Revise the grid and clues as needed
Add a title if desired