The MacGuffin is a triannually-published, print litmag based out of Schoolcraft College. Here are our general submission guidelines. You can find genre specific guidelines in each form.

  • We do not accept work that has been previously published in print or online.
  • Do not send revisions unless our editors have requested them. If there's a mistake with your submission, please send us a message or email macguffin@schoolcraft.edu instead of withdrawing.
  • Authors who include material under copyright in their work are responsible for receiving permission to use that copyrighted material before the magazine goes to print.
  • No cover letters are required. The information you include in the Submittable form will suffice.
  • We accept simultaneous submissions if informed. We expect prompt notification if the work is accepted elsewhere. Manuscripts may be withdrawn until we send an acceptance notification to you.
  • All withdrawals must come through Submittable, not email.
  • We do not consider translations.
  • All files must be sent as a .docx. We will not make any edits to your submission without informing you first. Authors whose work is accepted will receive galley proofs before publication.
  • Please use Times New Roman 12 pt. For work that requires specific spacing/formatting, use Palatino or Book Antiqua.
  • The MacGuffin is published by Schoolcraft College. Upon publication, all publishing rights revert back to the author. Contributors receive two copies.


  • Do not send revisions unless our editors have requested them.
  • We will consider up to five poems at a time.
  • All poems must be submitted in one file with each poem beginning on a new page.
  • Please contact us through Submittable if you wish to WITHDRAW an individual poem from your submission. 
  • Poems up to 200 lines will be considered.


  • Do not send revisions unless our editors have requested them.
  • We will consider no more than two pieces of fiction, creative nonfiction, or one of each, at a time. When sending multiple works, please send them in separate Submittable forms.
  • Submissions must be double-spaced with 1” margins all around.
  • The maximum word count is 5000 words.
  • Do not send revisions unless our editors have requested them.
  • We will consider no more than two pieces of fiction, creative nonfiction, or one of each, at a time. When sending multiple works, please send them in separate Submittable forms.
  • Submissions must be double-spaced with 1” margins all around.
  • The maximum word count is 5000 words.

· All artwork must be at least 2700p in height and 1800p in width, and submitted as a .png, .tiff, or .jpg.

· Artists may send up to 10 works per submission. Please wait to hear back from us before sending more work.

The MacGuffin