Plans for August, Trigger Warning Rants and Universal Rating Systems for Books | Author Vlog

[@SarahScharnweberAuthor]

I don't like rating systems. They are just a way for the overarching group (ie the MPAA) to push an agenda. Some directors can have nudity in a pg13 movie bc they are on the MPAA's good side. This would 100% happen if we did a rating system in books.

[@SarahScharnweberAuthor]

This would also end up requiring book sellers to start carding people and that's not their job. They should be closer to a librarian than a bouncer.

[@SarahScharnweberAuthor]

Also a Microbudget MPAA rating costs the company making the movie $2500 and it only goes up from there. Sorry I have feels.

[@SDHegyes]

You come from a film background too, so this makes sense! I didn't even think about the fact that there's a company with regulations behind rating systems. I still think it would be easier to come up with a rating system rather than trigger warnings, but make it more like author discretion? Kind of like how authors advertise using chillies for the level of spice in their books? Maybe the number of knives could be how violent it is, number of blood droplets talk about how gory it is? I don't know. You've given me a bit to think about though...

[@JoeyPaulOnline]

I'm good with generalised trigger warnings for my books. Like some will have none because they're literally crime novels so death is included in the genre but if I was exceptionally graphic I'd let readers know but ratings, they work but don't at the same time.

[@SDHegyes]

That makes sense.

[@TheDarqProject13]

I agree about not sanitizing historical nonsense. My personal stance is: know the genre you're reading, and adjust expectations. If you're reading horror, you signed up to be potentially traumatized. If you're reading "dark romance"? There's probably at least mentions of SA and dubcon. I agree that an age rating system would be nice, but then you run the risk of younger folks seeking catharsis not being able to access books the same way they limited music access in stores. I think "contains violence & adults having sexual relations" covers MOST bases. It's not your job to totally hold a reader's hand, IMO. I don't personally expect trigger warnings on any of my books. If I come across something that makes me hyperventilate, then I either DNF, or take a minute to get myself together and carry on. Most of my books would rank pg13 to nc-17/R. With the level of violence and spice... I don't write for kids.

[@SDHegyes]

Yeah. I've told my girls (13 and 12) they can read my writing, and if they have questions about something, please address it with me. We have the same rule with books they're reading or movies they're watching. There's lots of "taboo" topics we've discussed because they knew others who'd been through traumatic experiences and were asking questions, and while, yes, they are young, and someone out there's going to tell me I'm a screwed-up parent for having those kinds of conversations with them, I'd much rather they have the knowledge than find themselves in a situation where they don't know what's happening and can't get out of or talk about because of shame/guilt. Sorry. That was a long rant to lead into my next point. While I tell my kids they can read my writing because I'm a source they can go to with questions, in general, I say that my books aren't for kids and label them as NA for that reason. It'll be parents' discretion at that point, like it is for me with my kids. Completely agree with the fact that there's genres where you should expect certain things: death, murder, gore, violence in horror; hand-holding, kissing, petting, smexy times in romance (depending on spice level); mystical creatures and magic in fantasy. And I agree we shouldn't have to hold reader's hands which is part of why I have such mixed feelings about trigger warnings... It's such a fine line because I don't want to write an SA scene that takes up less than 500 words (and while the effects of the scene are long-lasting, the event itself isn't mentioned again), not warn someone about it, and then find out I've traumatized them. This in a NA PNR book where SA *could* happen but isn't necessarily common in the genre. Although, to be fair, I've read A LOT of PNR books that then use this kind of content as the basis for why an MMC is The One™ for the FMC, but that's another gripe for another day...

[@TheDarqProject13]

@@SDHegyes I'm with you when it comes to tiny humans. Like with TV shows and movies, if we watch something that's potentially problematic, I make sure they know that they can walk away if it's too much, and I'll answer any questions they have. As for trigger warnings... I dunno. I feel like you're damned if you do, damned if you don't. Personally, I'd leave the scene in. It's meant to make folks uncomfortable, not glorify it (and I've read plenty of "extreme horror" that you can totally tell is just an SA power fantasy the author has contemplated a time or two...) And OH, the Stockholm Syndrome. Oof.

[@savinascheil6662]

I do understand the need for trigger warnings. I write in the adult +18 crime-fantasy genre and I'm in the same place as you. where is the line and what do I need to make a trigger warning for and what do I not make a trigger warnings for? should I just make a disclamer that my book is containing contence that might trigger the reader, if life has not treatet them kindly, sins this book is about life and all the many bad things that can happens to a person in life and in death.

[@SDHegyes]

That's where I'm stuck at. Thanks for commenting and adding your input on the subject. Crime fantasy sounds so interesting!

[@PenumbraMineMMWard]

There is no hard line, but it really sounds like that reader was just looking for a reason to DNF. For me - trauma causing events, yes. For Phobias, no. I totally agree that books need a rating system because so many Y/A that are not appropriate for anyone under 13 or even 18. I wish movie ratings applies to books. Mine are PG-13, maybe R for some things. I also don't write open door smexy time but I have some very vivid war or torture scenes or chapters dealing with grief. Say when are we doing the next 7 day book challenge, I need to finish Spring and the MBA, the sequel to Death and the ADA, my Tarot and Greek Gods series.

[@SDHegyes]

Trauma-causing events, yes. Phobias, no. That's actually a really good way to think about it. Ugh! Yes. SJM is a HUUUGE author right now in adult romantasy, but when her ACOTAR books first came out, they were advertised as YA because SJM was a "YA author". Even today, when I walk into my local BnN, I can find ACOTAR in the YA section even though it's NOT for teens because they didn't want to split the two series into different sections. Yes, I realize that's the problem of the store rather than the author, but imagine if SJM wasn't as popular and more unknown. I bet parents would be SCREAMING that we've allowed things like that to happen. I fully believe it happens now BECAUSE she's so popular that people are like, "They should know already..." The next 7-Day Book Challenge is Sept 16-22. I'm excited! Hoping to finish the Sultry Solstices series with it although I changed out one of the stories out so... Dunno if I'll finish, but I'll get close!

[@persephone3892]

Yeah i dont like trigger warnings personally. It spoils books imo. I think trigger warnings should be kept on a separate website for people who want/need them. [Also why do people who have certain triggers read dark romance/horror/etc??? Lol]

[@SDHegyes]

That was something I wondered to, but I think the answer lies in that they find some things in dark romance/horror/etc therapeutic but others triggering? Like, I'm not a fan of slasher or gore-filled horror that presents in a lot of zombie-related media, but I love zombies. I'm my own contridiction! lol