Theme question

[TheSplenda]

I have an idea for a puzzle (or even a series of puzzles).

As an example, there would be one long theme "answer" (i.e. ONETERMPRESIDENT) and then different clues would be scattered throughout the puzzle (BUSH, ADAMS, CARTER, TAFT, HAYES, etc.). The shorter entries would be clued so they didn't relate to the president. (i.e. BUSH = Flammable Biblical foliage). And the clue for the long answer would be something like "What 11 down, 17 across, 29 down... have in common?"

Is this the type of puzzle that could be consistently sold? Would they be considered themed or unthemed?

[Alex Boisvert]

Hey, Splenda.

I think you'd be better off making the last names of those presidents into phrases, like
THE CLEVELAND SHOW
BEAT AROUND THE BUSH
PIERCE BROSNAN

etc.  You might have a better chance getting an acceptance that way. 

As a general rule, you want the theme phrases to be fresh and lively, and one-word entries don't really fit that bill.

Good luck!

[jorkel]

I mostly agree with Alex.  It doesn't involve that much word play  -- and the word play it has doesn't point distinctively to the unifying entry.

(Incidentally, ONETERMPRESIDENT is 16 letters, but it could still fit on a 16x15 grid and be submitted as a daily puzzle).

-Joe Krozel