When you queue up a TV show, movie, or even video game, you’re usually prompted with some kind of rating system or potentially even a warning. The rating might be something like “M for Mature” or “This show contains content that some viewers may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.”
These warnings and ratings help consumers gauge their comfort level in interacting with that content. if someone is particularly apprehensive, for example, they may choose to skip an episode of a show that warns viewers about the amount of violence.
You are reading: Content warning examples for books
Slowly but surely, authors are including similar warnings in their books. even book critics are starting to add these caveats to their reviews to give readers clues as to what to expect.
does your novel(s) need to include a trigger or content warning? maybe! Let’s explore this further together.
why you should include a content warning
Content warnings and activation warnings sometimes get a bad rap on the internet. some people dismiss even the idea that these warnings can help readers make informed decisions about what they consume. Fortunately, more and more readers and writers are seeing the importance of these warnings.
The question that many authors ask themselves is if their book needs a preface of this type. they might wonder where they ‘draw the line’ and stop providing warnings. While you may not be able to anticipate everything that might be a sensitive topic for readers (everyone is different with different life experiences), you can still assess your manuscript for potentially sensitive or disturbing content.
If you write about difficult or obscure topics, definitely consider adding a warning. examples of these include, but are not limited to:
- violence, even in a fantasy or science fiction book
- abuse or assault
- addiction
- war, imperialism, etc.
- mental health issues such as panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, etc.
- homophobia, racism, religious trauma, etc.
That is by no means an extensive list of potential triggers. and it doesn’t mean you can’t write about those things; They are part of the human experience. it just means you might consider letting readers know.
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Readers can be more picky about what they consume for a number of reasons. when you include a warning that that theme appears in your book, they can decide if they want to go on that journey with your characters or not.
Giving the reader the power to make this informed decision not only helps protect themselves, but also signals to readers who might like those topics that the book would be of interest to them. Instead of viewing trigger warnings as some kind of spoiler (they’re not!), think of them as another way to mark your book for your ideal readers
.
For example, some people are really into fantasy novels with magic and war, so highlighting them can help enthusiastic readers find you. If a reader struggles with anxiety and wants to read about characters with similar experiences, a content warning mentioning anxiety might persuade them to buy your novel! and on the other hand, if you market your book as a rom-com (light, funny, cute) but throw in some big trauma without warning, readers who are there for the joy of the genre may be really disappointed and even leave you a bad review.
If and when you work with beta readers or a critical partner, it’s also a great idea to educate them on these issues.
where to include content warnings for your book
part of including content warnings is putting them in a place where readers will see them. This doesn’t mean you have to paste warnings all over your book, but you do have a few options. you can include:
- a “note to the reader” at the beginning of your book
- warnings in your book blurb (especially if self-published)
- warnings on your site website or social networks
You could even do all three if you want to cover your bases. Some of her darker themes might even come naturally in her book description and description if they are a key part of her character’s journey and plot.
including spoiler-free warnings
let’s say you’ve decided to include some content warnings in your book. great! how can you do that without spoiling the plot?
While you want to warn readers so they can make an empowered decision, you don’t want to reveal your entire plot, do you?
You can approach content warnings the same way TV shows and movies do with their rating system. they simply name the theme without going into details.
in a book, for example, they might look like this:
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“This book contains references to alcohol use, violence using fantasy magic, and panic attacks.”
“This book explores issues related to generational trauma and addiction.”
these don’t spoil anything about how those themes appear in your book, what your characters (or what characters) go through. they just let readers know that those things will show up in some form at some point.
If you’re posting this warning on your website or social media, you could even write something like “cw: alcohol use, fantasy world violence, panic attacks” somewhere. for social networks, it can be the comments or the photo caption. for your website, which could appear at the end of your book synopsis.
Keywords, such as war, crime, battle, anguish, etc., that fit into your book’s blurb can also serve as a gentle warning to readers.
decide when to use content warnings
Although it is not mandatory to place this type of content and activate warnings in your books, more and more readers express their appreciation for these types of author warnings. it can show that you care about the reader experience and help you reach your ideal audience.
If you’re not sure if you need a warning like this, you can ask your beta readers, cp, or editor once they’ve read the manuscript. investigate common content warnings and triggers to see if there is anything in your book that needs to be flagged.
Ultimately, it is your decision as the author whether or not you want to include some type of content warning. consider your novel and the feedback you get from your team, then decide how you want to proceed.
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