How To Write Trigger Warnings

A quick guide to being a trauma informed content creator

There is a growing stigma on trigger warnings and confusion on how to write them effectively. So let’s clear some things up!

I am an advocate for trigger warning when done correctly. These explanations and tips are from my perspective as a researcher, author, trauma survivor, and mental health advocate.

Here are my best practices for trigger warnings.

What is a Trigger Warning?

Trigger warnings are stop signs for the reader. It tells them that rough roads are ahead and to be mindful of the crash potential. They are not arbitrary words with long winded lists. They should never contain spoilers.

Trigger warnings are part of being a trauma informed writer.

“[Trauma informed] means [realizing] trauma’s many personal and societal consequences, anticipating how trauma survivors may respond to our words and actions, and doing our part to create a world that does not cause further harm.” Psychology Today.

Please remember that just because something IS triggering, that doesn’t mean it belongs on a trigger warning list.

Stop Triggering Warning these:

1. No one should EVER list the word “disability” in trigger warnings. It promotes the idea that disability is scary or wrong.
2. Stop listing characters that are LGBTQIA under trigger warnings. It’s rude.
3. Ethnicity of characters is NEVER a trigger warning item.
4. Stop putting everyday tasks, jobs, types of animal, genres, celebrity names or other non-qualified triggers on your list.

Things that Should Be Trigger Warned

Trigger warnings are reserved things that are morally wrong, or things that are sensitive subject matter like:

• Sexual Assault (SA)
• Suicide
• Depictions of intense and extreme violence (like cannibalism, bullying, murder)
• Abuse
• Phobias
• Depictions of medical procedures that are graphic
• Depictions of self harm
• Graphics depictions of eating disorders

Pick 1-5 themes or potentially triggering events in your book and list them in the introduction. That small list is enough to give people the general idea of your books subject matter.

To sum it up, trigger warning anything that you can’t do without harming someone else emotionally or physically.

Follow the Clues: Deciphering Book Descriptions

Including sufficient details about triggers in your book descriptions eliminates the need for a complete list. Especially if you write in a genre that guarantees triggers.

Here are some examples of descriptions with enough information, and without. Keep in mind, this is general exercise and not specific to any particular trigger.

Description 1: A tale of enemies slayed in battle. The world descends into dystopian chaos, and there will be no survivors.

This story could have body horror with heavy descriptions of gore and violence. “Dystopian” implies a fall in human morality and descending into violence. So be ready for all that CAN happen with dystopian tropes including SA, Cannibalism and Suicide.

Description 2: Two lovers separate and later reunite after years apart. A tale of redemption and finding true happiness.

I have no idea what the triggers could be! An ambiguous description can benefit from a short 1-5 word trigger list.

Resource Lists

Listing mental health resources is a great way to trigger warn your audience. Include the National Suicide Hotline and Self Harm Helplines in your foreword. It gives a warning without a trigger list.

Tips for Readers

Pay close attention to the genre, author and book description information. Most likely it will give you clues as to potential triggers.

Certain genres guarantee triggering topics and others have a high likelihood.

Common genres with triggers:

• Extreme Horror/Splatterpunk
• Horror (Adult)
• Science Fiction
• Dystopian

Check Goodreads reviews and social media for excerpts of the book and author interviews. Sometimes a trigger list will be included with book reviews. It’s best to assume there will be a sensitive subject, this way you are not surprised.

Ultimately, it is your responsibility to determine what you read. So do your due diligence to manage your mental health.

Authors remember that trigger warnings aren’t mandatory, but they are an act of kindness.

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