The MacGuffin

A national literary journal produced at Schoolcraft College.

The MacGuffin’s 31st Annual Poet Hunt Contest

  • Guest judged by Nandi Comer, 2023–2025 Michigan poet laureate.
  • The contest is open from April 1 and closes at the end of June 15.
  • One (1) First Place Winner will receive a prize of $500 and publication. Grand prizes to be awarded to entrants from outside the United States may be fulfilled on an extended timeline due to college policy.
  • Up to two (2) Honorable Mentions may also be awarded and published.
  • Each entrant will receive one free issue of The MacGuffin that includes the winners of Poet Hunt 31.
  • Grand Prize Winners from the following 10 years, former Poet Hunt guest judges, and past and present staff members and their families are not eligible to participate.

General Submission Guidelines

  1. There is a $15 entry fee. If paying by check or money order, please make payable to “SCHOOLCRAFT COLLEGE.”
  2. An entry may consist of up to 5 poems. If more than 5 are sent, only the first 5 will be considered. Each poem can be up to 400 lines long. Poems longer than 400 lines will not be considered.
  3. Poems submitted may not be previously published and must be the original work of the contestant (however, translations are not permitted). Poems may be under consideration elsewhere. The MacGuffin reserves the right to disqualify work that is accepted elsewhere.
  4. If at all possible, please send all withdrawals by Friday, July 31, 2026.
  5. Entries will be initially screened by The MacGuffin staff through a blind review process. Based on an anonymous vote, 15 to 25 finalists will be sent to the guest judge for a final blind review with one (1) first place winner and up to two (2) honorable mentions ultimately being selected from this pool.
  6. Winners will be announced in September 2026.
To Submit via Submittable
  • Visit our Submittable page.
  • The Poet Hunt form will not go live until April 1, 2026.
For Postal Submissions
  1. Poems must be typed or printed on sheets of 8½″ × 11″ paper. Clean photo copies are acceptable. Do not include your name, address, or other identifying information on the poems to preserve the anonymous review process.
  2. Each entrant must include an index card or cover page that lists the titles of the poems entered, along with the contestant’s name, address, daytime telephone number, and email address. This information will only be used to contact you in light of a problem with your submission, to mail your complimentary issue, and to announce the winners of the contest. You information will not be used for marketing purposes.
  3. No entries will be returned. Do not send an SASE.
  4. Entries must be postmarked between April 1 and June 15, 2026.
  5. Mail entries to:

    The MacGuffin
    POET HUNT CONTEST
    Schoolcraft College
    18600 Haggerty Road
    Livonia, MI 48152

Please direct any questions to Gordon Krupsky, managing editor, via email at [email protected]. Happy writing and good luck!

Please direct any questions to Gordon Krupsky, managing editor, via email at [email protected]. Happy writing and good luck!