Content Warnings in Books: : Why They Matter & How to Use Them

Warnings in books serve as a way to alert readers about sensitive or difficult topics they might encounter in a story. These warnings help individuals who have experienced trauma or find certain subjects like abuse, addiction, violence, grief, loss, suicide, self-harm, racism, homophobia, bigotry, sexual violence, blood, and gore particularly triggering.

Many authors use these to provide an opportunity for readers to opt-out or prepare themselves before diving into a book that includes intense depictions. With the rise of spicy books, some also include warnings for sex scenes that may be graphic.

Various websites, such as Trigger Warning Database and Book Trigger Warnings, assist in figuring out appropriate warnings by providing examples from published books. Platforms like GoodReads often include genre tags that list potential warnings, ensuring that readers can make informed decisions before selecting a book.

What’s the Importance of These Warnings?

Trauma can deeply alter the brain, making people highly affected by certain subjects and unable to control their reactions when unexpectedly encountering painful material in a book. Finding out too late that a story contains distressing themes can cause real harm, which is why content warnings serve as a crucial tool for readers.

While some may attempt to search online for such details, many user-submitted warnings may not be accurate, available, or even exist for newly released, independently published, or less widely read works. For an author, including these notices is a sign of respect for the audience and acknowledges the experiences they bring to the story.

When and Where Should They Be Used?

Content warnings in books should be incorporated as a note to the reader, typically found in the front pages. This helps set expectations and prepare the reader for potentially sensitive material. It’s also necessary during the editing and publishing process to inform critique partners, beta readers, or editors about any difficult themes in your work, ensuring they are the right fit to work with you.

Authors often take an extra step by publishing these content warnings on their website or social media pages to make them easily available for readers to access wherever they might be looking.

What About Spoilers?

Content warnings are not intended to be spoilers, but if you’re worried they might give away too much about your plot, one solution is to place them in the back matter of the book, with a simple note in the front matter guiding readers on where to find them. This makes them easily accessible for those who need them, while preventing readers who prefer to experience the story without preconceived notions from stumbling upon them accidentally.

When you write your warnings, it’s important to be specific, such as mentioning child abuse instead of just “abuse,” but there’s no need to reveal any pivotal plot twists. For instance, if your book features a vengeful octopus attacking investment bankers, you can list dismemberment, beheading, and body horror without ruining the surprise.

Are Content Warnings a Form of Censorship?

The goal of content warnings is not to prevent authors from exploring difficult subjects, nor are they meant to dictate who should or shouldn’t read certain material. While they can help indicate whether a story is age-appropriate, their core purpose is about consent giving readers all the information they need to decide if your book is for them.

Content warnings allow readers to make informed decisions, ensuring that they know what to expect. And for horror readers, these warnings might even fuel excitement, as they could see something in the warning that sparks curiosity about where the story is headed.