| WORDCHOICE | Author's concern that, when parsed as four parts, provides a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| ASTARISBORN | Thrice-remade movie ... or, when parsed as six words, a hint to the theme clues in this puzzle |
| STOP | "Enough with the lame puns already!" (and, when parsed as three words, a hint to the theme answers) |
| BOOKREVIEW | Author's concern |
| TITLE | Author's concern |
| PLOT | Author's concern |
| TITLES | Authors' concerns |
| ALLFORONE | With 21-Down, catchphrase that provides a hint to eight answers in this puzzle |
| MIDDLEMARCH | George Eliot novel that's not the contest answer, but provides a hint to it |
| ANIFORANEYE | Payback phrase altered to provide a hint to solving four other puzzle answers |
| HEEL | The gun part provides instruction to dogs (4) |
| PAROLE | Dad's acting part provides temporary release |
| INKLING | One not known to Heather provides a hint (7) |
| NAMESADAY | Does some scheduling... or, when parsed differently, a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| PHOTOSHOP | Adobe graphics editor...or when parsed differently, a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| SANDBOX | Where a kid might build a castle ... or when parsed differently, a hint to the starred clues' answers |
| WORD | Scrabble play, or, when parsed in three parts, a hint to the switch featured in this puzzle's longest answers |
| WORDSQUARE | Classic letter puzzle - or, when parsed differently, a hint to three Down answers in this puzzle |
| TRASHPANDA | Humorous nickname for a raccoon ... or when parsed differently, a hint to understanding the starred clues' answers |
| MISPLAYED | Made a wrong move, say ... or when parsed differently, a hint to the starred clues' answers |
