| CAKEMIX | Batter beginner, or a description of the four letters in the exact centers of 20-, 29-, 46-, and 54- |
| ALTERNATEROUTES | Detours, or a description of the five-letter groups in the exact centers of 17-, 27-, and 44-Across |
| AWRINKLEINTIME | Classic young adult novel ... or hint to the path taken by four letters in the answers to the starred clues |
| ALDA | Famous Alan whose last name shares three of the four letters of ALAN |
| EGOS | They may clash, and what you'll find in the centers of 20-, 31-, 39- and 50-Across |
| ROOKIE | A raw beginner or a callow recruit (6) |
| TYRO | A beginner or a learner |
| TITLECHARACTERS | *Many protagonists, and a hint to the four letters that make up each starred answer's first word |
| NES | ___ gadol haya sham (Hebrew phrase represented by the four letters on a dreidel) |
| REVOLVINGDOOR | What rotates sequentially in 20-, 29-, 46- and 56-Across? (... letters 10-13) |
| NOPE | Slangy denial, and a hint to 20-, 29-, 46- and 56-Across |
| ADEAL | "What ___!" (possible response to 20-, 29-, 46- and 56-Across) |
| MARCHMADNESS | Annual sports event that begins with Selection Sunday on 3/15 ... or, cryptically, a hint to the scrambled word found at the starts of 20-, 29-, 37- and |
| CENTERPIECE | Decoration on a dining table, and what's in the exact middle of each starred clue's answer? |
| LEAD | One of five elements in the Periodic Table whose name is only four letters in length (4) |
| OHIO | The easternmost of the four-letter states |
| FILMNOIR | Four letters in a row one hid in tree in gangster movie (4,4) |
| AUTHOR | Beginner or originator of a plan or idea (6) |
| ASSUCH | When American turns to church, in the exact sense of the word (2,4) |
| NOVICE | Word for a beginner or tyro that derives from the Middle English meaning "new" (6) |
