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Marilyn Horowitz

Marilyn Horowitz

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Finding A MacGuffin

May 3, 2010 by Marilyn Horowitz

As writers, we’re constantly looking for a MacGuffin to catch our viewer/reader’s attention and drive our story.

But where to find them?

One often overlooked place is non-fiction work, particularly that which offers up a bunch of “future is now” ideas by government officials and scientists.

For example, Richard A. Clarke’s new book, Cyber War: The Next Threat To National Security And What To Do About It, suggests a number of scenarios that could cause “trains to collide, gas lines to explode, or the nation to lose electrical power for months.”

As an exercise:
Think about a current or near-future problem/disaster. Is it technological, environmental? What impact will it have on your story? How can your hero save the day? Why does it have to be your hero that saves the day?

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  • Home
  • About
  • Writing Services
  • Writing Guidance
    • Writing Evaluation
    • Writing Guidance
    • Comprehensive Packages
    • Ongoing Coaching
  • Classes & Seminars
    • New York University Classes
    • Seminars
    • Free Video Tutorials
    • Movie Breakdowns
    • Online Stores
  • Books & Media
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Scripting
    • What is Scripting?
    • Scripting Cheat Sheet
    • Free Scripting Class
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