What a well-written sudoku puzzle never requires you to do

Question:

Answer:

GUESS

Length:

Similar Crossword Questions:

Means to solving a sudoku puzzle
First word across in the first-ever crossword (1913) and the first of a dozen appearances of the word in this puzzle's grid, written word search-style (left, right, down, and diagonally) ... Can you f
Intrepid [Editor's note: This clue appears in heavier type (without the asterisks) in the print version of the puzzle. AcrossLite can't handle that, so just imaging that it's written in darker type.]
Sudoku-like puzzle
Sudoku puzzle, essentially
Do a sudoku puzzle or two, perhaps
Many people get one in the summer (and so do this puzzle's theme entries)
It requires spin control
Work written between "Typee" and "Mardi"
Period that ends Nov. 3rd, requiring a shift, and letters that shift in this puzzle's theme entries
Commonality of seven answers in this puzzle
Comedy writer Carol (whose new book, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying," inspired this puzzle)
Game that can follow the first part of this puzzle's four longest answers
Each of the four longest puzzle answers has two pairs of them
Not hand-written
It should be written in the leftmost column
Noted Seuss protagonist with an upcoming birthday, and a hint to a two-part puzzle that begins this week (1)
"That's repulsive!" ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme
ConfuseÂ—or what to do to four common phrases to form this puzzle's theme answers
Crossword puzzle inventor Arthur
Possible theme of this puzzle
Come in last (and an alternate title for this puzzle)
Puzzle fan Stewart
Exhibit found in this puzzle's four longest answers
Distressing letters found 9 times in this puzzle