Do Books Need Content Warnings?
This article discusses potential reasons for needing content warnings, so it will unavoidably contain mentions of things that could need content warnings.
One of the last steps for me when I'm publishing my novels is the front matter. The copyright page, dedication, previously published work, and all those things you find at the start of a novel and, if we're honest, that we often simply ignore.
But while I've been working on A Far Better Thing, it's occurred to me that one thing we don't tend to find at the start of novels is a content warning.
But why don't we? When you watch a film, it will have an age rating. In the cinema, the rating card will state the reasons behind the rating, such as swearing or violence. You'll see the same at the top of the screen at the start of anything you watch on a streaming service. And on broadcast TV, we have the watershed, and announcers will flag if a programme contains elements some people might find upsetting.
But why not books?
I began thinking about all this when I was doing my final revisions of A Far Better Thing. While I don't believe the story in my latest novel is particularly upsetting or graphic, I have scenes that touch on topics and issues that I'm confident more than a few people might find triggering. It features murder and suicide, which no one could be shocked about when picking up a dark thriller. But I also touch on the subject of suicidal ideation, and in one chapter, there is a violent scene which is, for one side-character at least, racially motivated.
Shouldn't I warn people about these?
I wouldn't be upset in unexpectedly coming across these topics in a book I picked up. At worst, I'd consider it a poor creative choice and move on. But I'm lucky enough to not have to share the traumas many people in the world have to live with.
And perhaps it's because I was already thinking about this topic that I was struck by an example in The Guest List, a book I recently read and very much enjoyed. In this book, there is a scene where one character cuts themself. It's not a huge scene, and the author doesn't linger over it. It's just a short action that they use to flesh out the issues one character deals with. And while I understand the reason this scene was included, if I was someone with a history of self-harm, it could have been very triggering. In fact, I know more than one person for whom I know this scene would have been incredibly upsetting, especially as it comes out of nowhere.
So, should this book have had a content warning?
I think so, yes.
Perhaps not all books. I don't particularly believe in creative censorship, and if something dark or potentially upsetting is the correct creative choice, I believe it should be included. And sometimes you have to take responsibility for what you read. If you pick up a True Crime or gritty detective story, you can't complain if there are upsetting or graphic scenes.
But I do believe that the author has a responsibility to list any particularly sensitive topics so that their readers can make an informed choice.
Not everyone agrees with me. I've asked a couple of people if they think I should include sensitivity or content warnings at the start of my novel, and a couple have been outright dismissive of the idea. But, personally, I don't see how doing so will lessen anyone's experience. If you don't think content warnings are necessary, you can simply ignore them. It's just a line of text on a page most people skip anyway. But if you do have a trauma or particular issue with a topic, it might be a warning that either allows you to mentally prepare or even that you should skip the book entirely.
And perhaps that's why publishers have avoided this in the past. But I would rather lose a sale than feel that my work might unfairly and, without warning, trigger someone's trauma.
So yes, A Far Better Thing will have content warnings at the start for suicide, suicidal ideation, and racially based violence. These aren't the focus of the story. They might not even be mentioned more than once and only in passing. But I would rather not surprise anyone and leave them with a bad taste in their mouth from my work.
