Week 3 of the prompt project sees us tackling the subject of Content Warnings, which is not something I’ve given much thought to.

Over the years I’ve read widely in horror, thriller, psychological thriller, crime, fantasy and romance. Most of these genres you expect dark and sometimes grisly themes, so the idea of content warnings seems unnecessary. However, in recent times I’ve noticed it becoming more accepted to offer these warnings.

I’ve had reviewers mention things in my books that might be a trigger to others. Sometimes these are small plot points that don’t seem relevant to me as an author, but clearly they could be issues for readers. I’ve entered competitions where they ask you to list all triggers that might affect the judges. The same goes for book review sites. These all make sense as having the wrong readers for your books will only hurt both parties. But doesn’t having content warnings take away the mystery of picking up a brand new book and just diving straight in?

I’m really on the fence about this and haven’t put content warnings on my books yet.

What do you think as a reader or an author? Are these warnings necessary?

I can only think of one time when the content of a book stopped me reading on. Not the book itself, but I didn’t continue with the series after book 1. It was Mark Lawrence One Word Kill. The teenage character is dying – which it states in the first line of the blurb, so no surprises there. But at the time of reading my son was the same age, and I just found it too uncomfortable imagining him going through cancer treatment etc. It was a good book and well written as are all Mark Lawrence’s books (and some of his books have very DARK themes) but this one was not for me.

Would a content warning have stopped me picking it up? No. I didn’t realise I would be triggered by anything like this and I probably wouldn’t be now. It was just how I felt at the time.

Do you have triggers that you’d rather not read about? Or do you go into a book open minded and take what the author throws at you?

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Thanks for Ari for suggesting this interesting topic in her Writer Blog Prompt Project. Here is a link to Ari’s post on content warnings where she will also add links to any other blogs that decide to take part this week.

The next topic up for discussion – D is for Drop Caps.

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