Creating your own McGuffin

You are sitting down to plan that first adventure novel and you need a McGuffin. Got McGuffin? You need the Holy Grail or the Ark of the Covenant, but those have been done before. Most lost treasures or lost cities have been done before in adventure novels or movies. This means you can create your own spin on them, or you can create your own.

If your read my other post on McGuffins, then you know what they are. If you didn't, get over there and do it (What is a McGuffin?). Or Google it, because someone else probably explained them better than me. I'm not explaining them again! 

Why Create Your Own McGuffin?

Simple. All of the other ones have been used and used again in different media. Not that you cannot write them with your own creative twists, but some people are tired of cliches. I like cliches and don't easily get tired of them. Publishers, not so much. 

It can be fun to do as well, especially if you are a very creative type or if it fits your narrative. You get to design it from the ground up, creating a legendary backstory complete with curses and lost expeditions. If you are an artist, in the sense that you can draw or paint, then you could even drum up literal imagery of your McGuffin. 

The sky is the limit when your make your own, so let your freaky imagination fly free.

How to Create Your Own?

Research and creativity. 

Next.

Okay, maybe I could elaborate more...

The order does not matter here, maybe you are creative and have an idea first or are researching and come up with an idea. Logical, right? With that idea in mind, it is time to build on it, to make it real. It can be helpful to base your McGuffin on something real or even mythological to give it substance. 

Read up on mythological artifacts or cultural mythologies to get ideas. Research cultures and legends on archaeological and anthropological websites to pull real world influences into your story and McGuffin. Hell, start with old Wikipedia and then head down the rabbit hole.

Example time. Your McGuffin is a holy amulet from a long-lost African empire. The amulet has mystical powers that give its holder victory in any battle. The amulet is based on legendary artifacts like the Spear of Longinus, aka the Spear of Destiny, or even the power of the Ark of the Covenant. Additionally, you could choose a real African empire that existed in antiquity, or you can make one up and base it on a combination of traits from real empires. Build up legends around the item, such as a King wore the amulet in every battle and never lost until the amulet fell from his neck. Or in the 1920's several expeditions vanished in the Congo seeking the amulet. Mystery generates interest. 

It is up to you to make the McGuffin as real or far-fetched as you want. It is up to you if you want to make one up too. With that in mind, go McGuffin yourself.