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The MacGuffin

See other projects related to this listing.

About

Published at Schoolcraft College, The MacGuffin is a print-only lit mag featuring poetry, prose, and fine art from both home and abroad. We aim to highlight writing that takes risk with form and expands genres, along with work that can present vivid images and a strong voice in more traditional formal structures.

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States
Established in 1984

Publication Medium & Frequency

Print Publication Print Publication
Published 3 x per year

AI Policy

Unknown AI policy
825 members set this magazine as a Favorite.

Statistics Synopsis

Regular Speed
The MacGuffin's overall average response time is within a normal range for magazines.
More Approachable
The MacGuffin's overall acceptance rate is higher than most magazines.
More Responsive
The MacGuffin's overall rate of non-response is lower than most magazines.
Learn more about our statistics

Collapse section Fiction Open

Dates:

Open to fiction submissions through 30 June 2027* (approx. 288 days from now).

1

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words.
Short Story: 1,000 - 5,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Nonfiction Open

Dates:

Open to nonfiction submissions through 30 June 2027* (approx. 288 days from now).

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Essay: Up to 5,000 words; Up to 2 pieces.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Poetry Open

Dates:

Open to poetry submissions through 30 June 2027* (approx. 288 days from now).

5

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Poem: Up to 200 lines; Up to 5 pieces.

Poetry Forms:

Open to all/most Forms, including: Experimental poetry, Formal verse, Free verse.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Visual Art Open

Dates:

Open to visual art submissions through 30 June 2027* (approx. 288 days from now).

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Artwork: Up to 10 pieces.

Art Media:

Drawing.
Painting.
Photography.

Art Styles:

Open to all/most Art Styles.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Image.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.
* We do not know the time and/or timezone, so we cannot be more precise. Submit early to avoid disappointment.

Recent cover image or website screenshot for The MacGuffin

Go to publication's website

Report:
Submission/Response
Correction/Update
New Cover Art

Social:
Facebook Facebook
Instagram @macguffin1984
X (Twitter) @MacGuffin1984

Support this Publisher:
Purchase Issue(s)

For the Editor(s):
Request Interview
Duosuma Submission Manager
Link to Duotrope

The MacGuffin Submission Statistics

The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics.

Filter:
Accuracy
We have received 140 reports from 123 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported
0 min | 70.5 mean avg | 66.5 median | 152 max days (330.0 std dev)
Responses
92.86 %
Acceptances:
11.43 % of submissions accepted (93.0 avg. days per acceptance) | 13.01 % of submitters accepted Rejections are often underreported, which skews the statistics in favor of acceptances. Most publishers have a lower acceptance rate than indicated here.
Rejections:
81.43 % (68.3 avg. days per rejection) | 9.7 % personal, 76.3 % form, 14.0 % unspecified | 0.7 % shortlisted
Non-Responses
0.00 %
Lost/Returned:
-
Never Responded:
-
Withdrawals
7.14 % (25.5 avg. days per withdrawal)
Pending
37 responses are pending (3 min | 60.8 mean avg | 14.0 median | 329 max days waiting | 485.7 std dev) from 37 different members This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days

Other Information

The editors will try to make a decision within 120 days. (10.0 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 120 days.)
Submissions are acknowledged within 3 days on average.
Most recent response reported was received on 31 Aug 2026.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 11 Jun 2026.
Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 09:45 UTC (24 minutes ago).
View report of recent responses from this project

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Your Submissions

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The MacGuffin Poet Hunt Contest  Charges fees for all submissions

Before Submitting

We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.

  • Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.
  • Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.
  • Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.
  • Be professional, patient, and persistent.

Dates

Last Updated: 31 Aug 2026

We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.

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