Liam Runnalls is a name that resonates deeply within the Australian creative landscape. Known for his brilliant crosswords, witty puzzles, and clever linguistic play, he stands among the finest minds in the world of word games. His journey from a curious young writer to one of the country’s most admired puzzle creators is a story of creativity, persistence, and passion. Through his distinctive approach to crafting clues, Runnalls has transformed a traditional pastime into an intellectual art form that continues to captivate readers across Australia.
Early Life and Inspirations
Born and raised in Victoria, Australia, Liam Runnalls grew up surrounded by literature, language, and the natural world. His fascination with words began at an early age, when he developed an interest in writing and storytelling. By the time he reached his teenage years, he was already experimenting with riddles, poetry, and linguistic challenges—an early sign of the puzzle genius he would later become.
He often recalls his school years fondly, especially his early fascination with crosswords and brain-teasers. His curiosity about how language works—how words can carry double meanings or hidden patterns—was something that never left him. As a child, he spent hours poring over newspapers, decoding cryptic crosswords far more advanced than his age would suggest. This playful relationship with words would later become the cornerstone of his professional career.
Education and Early Career
Runnalls pursued creative writing at university in Melbourne, a decision that sharpened both his linguistic skills and his creative instincts. The years he spent immersed in literature and composition honed his understanding of structure, rhythm, and tone. After completing his studies, he explored various writing-related roles before discovering his true calling in puzzle-making.
His creative journey was never one of overnight success. He spent years refining his craft—learning the intricate logic behind crossword construction, developing his own style of wordplay, and mastering the balance between accessibility and challenge. During this period, he also ventured into digital design and editing work, experiences that helped him view puzzles not merely as pastimes but as interactive art.
The Rise of a Crossword Virtuoso
It was around 2012 when Liam Runnalls began publishing professionally under his initials, “LR”. His puzzles appeared in several well-known Australian newspapers and magazines, including The Saturday Paper, The Age, and The Sydney Morning Herald. His cryptic crosswords quickly gained attention for their smart construction, humour, and originality.
What makes his work stand out is his ability to connect with both casual solvers and seasoned crossword enthusiasts. Each puzzle bears his unique signature—precise wording, subtle misdirection, and a sense of delight that rewards perseverance. He has said that his goal is to make puzzles that are “smart but fair”—ensuring that every answer, no matter how tricky, feels earned once revealed.
Crafting the Perfect Puzzle
Runnalls treats puzzle creation as both a science and an art. Behind each grid lies meticulous planning, creativity, and structure. His process often begins with a single idea—a word, a theme, or a twist—that sparks the puzzle’s framework. He then builds around it, ensuring symmetry, coherence, and balance.
He believes that a great crossword is a conversation between the setter and the solver. The clues must be challenging enough to test the mind, yet elegant enough to make the solution satisfying. His cryptic clues often blend wordplay, puns, cultural references, and logic in seamless harmony. Each puzzle reflects his deep respect for language and his belief that solving should be both mental exercise and pure enjoyment.
The Influence of Nature and Place
A defining aspect of Liam Runnalls’s personality is his connection with nature. After years in the city, he moved to the quiet town of Elphinstone in rural Victoria. Surrounded by bushland, native birds, and a slower pace of life, he found a renewed sense of inspiration. His rural environment became a muse for many of his works, particularly his puzzle book Birdle, which celebrates Australia’s native birdlife through creative word challenges.
He has often said that his appreciation for birds and nature dates back to childhood, when he would collect feathers and write school reports on native species. This early fascination evolved into a deep love for Australia’s wildlife, and Birdle became a way to merge his two passions—language and nature.
Birdle: A Celebration of Words and Wildlife
Birdle is one of Liam Runnalls’s most celebrated works—a puzzle book dedicated entirely to Australian birds. Each puzzle in the book draws inspiration from a specific bird species, combining linguistic wit with educational insight. It’s not merely a puzzle collection; it’s a tribute to the country’s unique biodiversity and cultural relationship with nature.
Runnalls has described Birdle as an attempt to make readers think about birds in a fun, engaging way. It appeals to both puzzle enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, proving that entertainment can coexist with education. The book’s success cemented his reputation not just as a crossword creator but as a thoughtful artist who uses wordplay to celebrate Australia’s identity.
The Mind Behind Minute Cryptic
Beyond Birdle, Runnalls is also one of the key creative forces behind Minute Cryptic, a platform that challenges players to solve short but clever cryptic puzzles in under a minute. The concept redefines traditional crosswords for the modern audience—shorter, sharper, and accessible to those who want a quick mental workout during their day.
Runnalls’s involvement as chief clue writer demonstrates his versatility. He understands that while traditional crosswords have their charm, the digital world demands brevity and interactivity. Minute Cryptic merges the best of both worlds: classic crossword craftsmanship and the fast-paced convenience of mobile engagement.
A Life of Creativity and Simplicity
Despite his professional achievements, Liam Runnalls leads a simple, grounded life. Living in an old house in the countryside, he divides his time between writing, family, and the outdoors. He enjoys chopping wood, bushwalking, and playing tennis at the local club in Kyneton. His life is a reflection of balance—between creativity and calm, intellect and nature.
Interestingly, Runnalls is colour-blind, which has subtly shaped his artistic preferences. He often works in black-and-white mediums, finding beauty in contrast and clarity. This limitation turned into a strength, giving his puzzles a clean, timeless aesthetic that mirrors the crisp logic behind them.
Personal Life and Values
Runnalls is a family man, married in 2019, and now a proud father. He occasionally hides personal Easter eggs in his puzzles—references to his wife or children—adding an intimate layer for those who know him personally. He believes that creativity should always have a personal heartbeat behind it, a touch of real life that makes art relatable.
Outside of puzzle-making, he is also a cartoonist and contributor to several publications. His cartoons often blend gentle humour with social observation, much like his crossword clues, revealing his ability to find wit in everyday life.
Philosophy on Wordplay
For Liam Runnalls, puzzles are more than games—they are mental art forms that connect people. He once described solving a crossword as a “shared smile between two strangers”—a perfect summary of the bond between creator and solver. His philosophy emphasises fairness, wit, and satisfaction. A clue should challenge, but never frustrate. It should make the solver feel clever, not defeated.
This philosophy has made him a favourite among solvers across Australia. Each of his puzzles carries a distinct charm, a voice that solvers have come to recognise and admire.
Recognition and Impact
Today, Liam Runnalls is regarded as one of the leading puzzle-makers in Australia. His work has influenced a new generation of crossword creators who look up to his style—balanced, refined, and endlessly creative. Publications seek him out not only for his technical mastery but also for his ability to bring warmth and humour into logical constructs.
His crosswords have become a staple in weekend reading, offering Australians a dose of intellectual challenge wrapped in entertainment. Beyond newspapers and books, his impact extends to the broader creative community, where he advocates for the importance of play, curiosity, and lifelong learning.
Future Projects and Legacy
Although modest about his accomplishments, Runnalls continues to expand his creative horizons. He remains deeply involved in puzzle innovation and literary projects that blend wordplay with culture. Fans anticipate future releases that might combine his puzzle genius with storytelling, humour, or new interactive formats.
His work reminds us that puzzles are not merely distractions—they are reflections of thought, creativity, and the human desire to find meaning through patterns. Whether through Birdle, Minute Cryptic, or his daily crosswords, Runnalls has made wordplay a joyful and intelligent pursuit for thousands of people.
Conclusion
Liam Runnalls represents the rare blend of intellect, artistry, and humility. From his early fascination with words to his celebrated career as a crossword and puzzle creator, he has left an indelible mark on Australia’s cultural and literary scene. His works—rich in humour, intelligence, and creativity—continue to delight readers across generations.
In a world where attention spans are shrinking, Runnalls has proven that the allure of a well-crafted puzzle endures. His dedication to the craft and his thoughtful engagement with solvers make him not only a master of words but also a storyteller who turns logic into art. Through his creations, Liam Runnalls has given Australia not just puzzles to solve but moments to cherish—each clue a reminder of the beauty of language and the power of curiosity.
