Solution to II, 2

If you go about this one thinking it's a drop-quote, you'll find it impossible. Instead, start thinking horizontally. The blue letters and the blue boxes go together, obviously. How?

Alphabetically, of course, by ROW.

So.


H _ _ _ I _ A C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A D _ _ _ O_ A Q _ _ _ _ 
T _ D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B _ _ _ _ _ _
D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ F _ _ _ _

The first row contains "O-" as a letter. Not a short word, obviously. A long word, beginning with a C and containing "O-"? Oh, yeah. Crypto-betical.
 
HERE IS A CRYPTO-BETICAL


Second row. No "F" so O_ must be OR. "Q" is generally followed by U. Third row, TO is obvious. Fourth row, Two Z's and a six-letter word starting with P strongly suggest PUZZLE, especially since the thing already seems self-referential. The end has to be "S."
 
HERE IS A CRYPTO-BETICAL
W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A D _ _ _ OR A QU _ _ _ 
T _ D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B _ _ _ _ _ _
D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ PUZZLE F _ _ _ S.

The title is usually a big hint...

HERE IS A CRYPTO-BETICAL
W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A DROP OR A QUOTE
TO D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B _ _ _ _ _ _
D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ PUZZLE F _ _ _ _

Back to the second row. Unscramble W (HIOTTU) = WITHOUT.

"Here is a Crypto-betical without a drop or a quote to..." To do what?
 
The list of common seven-letter words staring with B is small. The structure suggests a preposition. BETWEEN works. The last word could be FILMS, but really? Puzzle films? How about FORMS.
 
HERE IS A CRYPTO-BETICAL
WITHOUT A DROP OR A QUOTE 
TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN
DIFFERENT PUZZLE FORMS.
 
Okay, that was hard-ish. So, as a treat, here's an easy puzzle for your holiday table....