You may have noticed that in recent years, a growing number of authors, filmmakers, and other content producers have begun including “content warnings” or “trigger warnings” in the introductions to their works.

While it may feel counterintuitive to warn people about reading your book, the purpose of a content warning is not to turn readers away. Rather, it simply tells readers what they can expect and empowers them to make their own decisions.

Chances are, most will read your book anyway—but they’ll appreciate your transparency, which could spare them some troubling surprises later.

In this post, we’ll help you understand whether your book should have a content warning, what it should say, and where you should post one,

What Is a Content Warning?

A content warning alerts readers to upcoming content and themes that some may find distressing—for example, scenes with a lot of blood, graphic sex, or domestic violence.

Including these warnings doesn’t necessarily mean that fewer people will read your book; it just means that they’ll make the informed decision to read or not themselves, and they won’t be unpleasantly blindsided when certain content pops up.

Importantly, content warnings leave the power in your readers’ hands, offering them a safe space where they can decide if and how they will engage with the content.

Content Warning vs. Trigger Warning

Although often used interchangeably, content warnings and trigger warnings can be slightly different.

A trigger warning is a specific type of content warning that warns of content that may cause intense physiological and psychological symptoms for people who suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or other anxiety disorders.

Content warnings are more general, and serve to classify content for readers that could still be troubling, even if not technically “triggering.”

Does Your Book Need a Content Warning?

In general, if your book contains scenes that depict any of the following, you should consider including a content warning in your book and its marketing material.

• Abuse
• Animal cruelty
• Blood and gore
• Child abuse/pedophilia/incest
• Eating disorders or fat phobia
• Hateful language directed at religious groups (e.g., Islamophobia, anti-Semitism)
• Homophobia or Transphobia
• Kidnapping and abduction
• Mental illness and ableism
• Miscarriages/abortion
• Murder
• Nudity
• Pornographic content
• Racism and racial slurs
• Self-harm or suicide
• Sexual assault
• Torture
• Violence

However, it’s important to note that there aren’t really any rules dictating the inclusion or omission of a content warning.

It’s a decision you must make on your own, with consideration for your readers and their emotional wellbeing, as well as the fact that failing to include one could get you some bad reviews.

If a warning was indeed warranted but you didn’t include one, someone else will likely take it upon themselves to warn other readers—and you don’t want that.

You should be the one to notify your readers of any potentially distressing content that they’ll come across in your book. The worst that could happen is that they decide to pass on your book, but at least you’ll have their trust and respect.

Content Warning Example

Here’s an example of a content warning we recently added to one of our new releases, Doctor Glass:

CONTENT GUIDANCE: This novel explores aspects of psychology and mental health and contains depictions of self-harm, alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and suicide. Please read with care.

As you can see in the screenshot below, we included the content warning in the book’s Amazon description, but also in the actual book’s front matter, and in all marketing materials on Goodreads, BookBub, etc.

Here’s another example from the Roommate Risk by Talia Hibbert, also posted at the bottom of the book’s Amazon description:

This book was previously published as Wanna Bet?. The Roommate Risk is a steamy, standalone, diverse romance. This book is 75,000 words of fluff, angst, and extreme pleasure, with NO cliffhangers, NO cheating, and a guaranteed HEA. Please be aware: this story contains themes of parental neglect and abandonment, parental death, and alcohol dependence that could trigger certain audiences.

You can phrase your content warning however you’d like, but in general it’s best to keep it short and sweet. You don’t need to get into detail about what exactly happens in certain scenes; just state which themes might be distressing to some readers.

Where to Post Content Warnings

If you do decide that a content warning is appropriate for your book, you should post the warning anywhere readers can decide to read or purchase your book.

This includes:

• At the beginning of all versions of your book (including print, ebook, and audiobook)
• In your book’s description on Amazon, Goodreads, Bookshop.org, and any other retailers where it’s listed (listing it at the bottom of the description is fine, as long as it’s clearly visible)
• In its description on any marketing or promotional sites where your book is listed (such as NetGalley, Bookbub, etc.)

Consider Your Audience

When it comes to content warnings, it’s usually best to err on the side of caution. If your book has themes that could be troubling to some readers, just let them know—there’s no need to get into detail or make a big fuss about it.

Your readers will appreciate your transparency and consideration, and you could save yourself from some potentially damaging reviews.

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

 

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

• Sensitivity Readers: What They Are and How to Work With One
• Is Explicit or Edgy Content Okay in Young Adult Books?
• NetGalley Review: How Authors Can Use This Service to Get More Reviews
• The StoryGraph Review: A Sleek New Competitor for Goodreads