Definition
A MacGuffin is an object, goal, or secret that drives the plot forward even though its specific nature matters less than the chase it creates.
Example
Spies cross continents to steal a briefcase; what is inside may matter less than the rivalry and pursuit.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Building a MacGuffin so elaborate that readers expect it to matter more than it does.
- Forgetting that characters still need personal stakes beyond the object.