Fame
True, nobody stops you in the grocery store for an Instagram pic. But to crossword fanatics, you are a rock star. If you get your name on enough puzzles, you may even find yourself with a fan following, or write a competition grid for the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.
There are many famous faces in the crossword world. Margaret Farrar, a New York Times editor until the late '60s, created many of the rules, including the square shape and symmetry which make crosswords pleasing to the eye (source). Merle Reagle, a popular and prolific constructor known for his witty puns, made it onto Oprah and The Simpsons (source). Brendan Emmett Quigley, who found crossword success at a young age, creates what his website calls "online off-beat" crosswords. Quigley releases free puzzles twice a week, a change from the subscription-based, "one-a-day" business model of most publications. Times editor Will Shortz casts a tall shadow over Crosswordland, and has revolutionized the payment structure, as you'll see elsewhere in this unit.
And, finally, let's not forget the fans...famous crossword addicts include comedian Jon Stewart, author Norman Mailer, and former President Bill Clinton, who co-wrote a New York Times puzzle in 2007 (source).