Back to Basics: MacGuffin

Izhan Arif
Jun 23
3 min read

Every aspect of a story has to be intentional. Not only is this a great way to hook your reader, it also helps build a long-term relationship so your readers become fans who keep coming back for more. In this Back to Basics course, we’re deconstructing MacGuffins.

MacGuffins are probably the most commonly used, rarely understood tool in storytelling. A MacGuffin is something a protagonist finds which can end up aiding them later, somewhat like the "Checkov's Gun" theory but less restrictive of the timeline. MacGuffins appear often in movies, especially with a "callback", and while they can be really cool, they’ve actually been a bit overexposed recently in film. Think of Marvel's 6 Infinity Stones as an example. When done right, MacGuffins can really make stories exciting.

Rule 1: MacGuffins are catalysts for stories, they aren’t the story themselves

This rule comes from ‘Industrial Scripts’ and it mentions how MacGuffins can be great for getting the plot going. It’s also important that MacGuffins are realistically built into the world of the story. MacGuffins can move the story forward, but they aren’t necessarily important within the story enough that they radically affect the story’s outcome.

One example Industrial Scripts uses is the Heart of the Ocean necklace in Titanic. Industrial Scripts says [that] “this object affects the plot (the release of the necklace) but how the story pans out is inevitable. So the necklace does not affect the story’s outcome.”

MacGuffins can be a great way to move the story from point A to point B.

Rule 2: Have the MacGuffin reveal something about your character

This piece of advice comes to us from Masterclass and it can be really useful. While MacGuffins are typically an object that characters want, it can help when there is a specific personal reason that a character wants that thing. Masterclass says that, “The object of desire is the setup that propels the characters into action, and the subsequent reactions can illustrate character depth.”

One example of this, courtesy of Masterclass, is the word ‘Rosebud’ from the film Citizen Kane. As further explained in the article, “It is revealed that ‘Rosebud’ was the sled that Kane was playing on the day he was taken away from his family as a child. This MacGuffin represents the loss of innocence.”

This actually also leads to the next point.

Rule 3: While they typically are, MacGuffins don’t have to be physical objects

MacGuffins typically operate as concrete, physical objects, but they don’t always have to be. MacGuffins can represent ideas like power or love instead. They could also be different characters too.

Example: John embarks on a journey to find true happiness.

Here, the idea of ‘happiness’ is the MacGuffin. It’s an idea that serves as the catalyst for John and the events of the story. This specific MacGuffin also has some layers to it. What would true happiness be for John? What if it’s something that we as an audience wouldn’t think is true happiness? What if a source of true happiness for John is filing taxes?

Now that we know a little bit more about MacGuffins, let’s try the challenge.

The Challenge:

Write a story (up to 2,000 words) using one of these prompts.

A cartoonishly large sword which can destroy the universe.
A killer koala bear is on the loose and can only be destroyed with George Washington’s wooden teeth.
Someone is looking for the meaning of life.
There is a race to find a suitcase filled with $4 billion.

You can submit your challenge for free feedback through the

Back to Basics Dropbox.

Thanks for joining us for this Back to Basics course! If you tried this month’s challenge, you can share it on our discord or on social media using #WWB2B.

About the author:

Izhan Arif is an English graduate from the University of Illinois, Chicago. His interests tend to revolve around all things superhero, whether it be comics, shows, or movies! He also loves to write (go figure) and when he's not working on Back to Basics, he's also writing videos for WatchMojo!