Today’s NYT Strands Notes, Answers and Help for December 17, #289

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It took me an embarrassingly long time to connect the title of today’s Strands puzzle with its theme. The title of the puzzle is “It’s Glow!” I understand this as a Gen-Z expression for something that is exciting or fun, like a party. But as an English student, I should have immediately realized that “lit” is also an abbreviation for “literature.” Anyway, if you need more clues and answers for today’s Strands puzzle, read on.

I also go into detail about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you are looking for today’s word, connect and mini crossword puzzle answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT Puzzle Clues page.

Read more: NYT Connections turns 1: These are the 5 most difficult puzzles so far

Clue for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands topic is: It’s lit!

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a hint: Sections in a Bookstore.

Clue words to unlock clues in the game

Your goal is to find hidden words that match the theme of the puzzle. If you get stuck, find all the words you can. Every time you find three words with four or more letters, Strands reveals one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get these clues, but any words with four or more letters that you find will work:

• CAME, MACE, RENT, RIME, WETS, MORE, CHOIR, CHOIRS, HINGE, TING, TINGE, STEW, WEST, REST, LATE.

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that fit the topic. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that extends from one side of the puzzle to the other. Once you have all of them (I originally thought it would always be eight, but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board is used. Here are the non-Spangram answers:

• CRIME, FANTASY, ROMANCE, WESTERN, HISTORICAL

Today’s Strands Spangram

Today’s Strands Spangram is fiction genre. To find it, start with the F, which is four letters down in the first row on the far left, and keep scrolling.