Comments on: What is a MacGuffin?

By: Vince Nakovics

Vince Nakovics — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 08:09:37 +0000

And I was ready for a cup of coffee. 🙂 Didn't know it had a name. I kind of used it in three connecting stories I wrote. Learn something new every day. 🙂

By: Eldred Bird

Eldred Bird — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 19:21:14 +0000

In reply to Susan Haught. Glad I could clarify it for you, Susan. A lot of people misunderstand and think the MacGuffin has to be an object, but it can be so much more. I happy this helped.

By: Eldred Bird

Eldred Bird — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 19:18:10 +0000

In reply to dholcomb1. Okay, this is funny. I think the first time I ever saw that film was also on the local PBS channel on UHF!

By: Eldred Bird

Eldred Bird — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 19:16:22 +0000

In reply to rosihollinbeck. A perfect example! And yes, feel free to share the link anywhere you wish!

By: Susan Haught

Susan Haught — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 18:04:44 +0000

Hi, to a fellow Arizona writer! The speaker at one of the first Northern Arizona RWA meetings I attended years ago explained what a McGuffin is. Unfortunately, the craft of writing was so new to me it didn't sink in. Yours is a wonderful explanation that points out the different ways a McGuffin can be used, and I can finally say 'I get it'. It's interesting to look back at my books and see that yes, I've used them although I didn't truly know I had! Thank you ... this is one of those posts I'll be saving for future reference. CHEERS! Susan

By: dholcomb1

dholcomb1 — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 04:49:38 +0000

North by Northwest is my favorite. Has been since I first saw the movie on UHF when I was a kid.

denise

By: rosihollinbeck

rosihollinbeck — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 02:18:31 +0000

I will be posting the link to this post on my blog.

By: rosihollinbeck

rosihollinbeck — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 02:17:49 +0000

Thanks for an interesting post and such great examples. I have a MacGuffin in my WIP, a long-lost uncle the MC has to find, impelling him on a cross-country journey. I had no idea he was a MacGuffin.

By: Eldred Bird

Eldred Bird — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 23:30:38 +0000

In reply to Jenny Hansen. Big Congrats, Jenny! I knew that story had major potential when I first read it.

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 21:33:59 +0000

I've got MacGuffins all over the dang place - I've just always called them themed objects. In one book it's a chair, in another it's a house, and EVERY short story I write has one because it helps move things along more quickly in a short amount of pages. Thanks so much for defining it here, Bob (and for the shout-out for Brotherly Love)! Fun fact: that story just won a first place award and was included in an anthology. :-)