I just created and posted a [new trigger list] to this website. I wanted to add some notes about creating the list, but it didn’t feel right to include that in the same post. Therefore, I am making a separate post here.
So, why did I put a triggers list on my website?
1. It’s easier to edit and I don’t have to worry about spoilers.
It’s much easier to edit my list on my website. Historically, I’ve included the potential triggers in a little note under the book summaries on Amazon. That takes more time and effort to edit. I have also since learned more about triggers, including the existence of potential ones I hadn’t thought about. Creating the list on my website turned out to be a convenient time to update the initial list I had created when I published my books.
Additionally, when I initially made the list I included when I published my books, I ran into the problem of how to navigate the inclusion of potential triggers that also may be potential spoilers. That’s not an easy thing to do after a book summary. However, the new list on my website includes a convenient note that the list may contain spoilers.
2. I’ve received too many snarky comments at in-person events. (“Oh, you just HAVE to put triggers on books these days.”) The trolls seem to have become more emboldened over the years. Although I’d rather not feed the trolls, it’s frustrating to me when this happens at in-person events. Moving the list to my website makes it less accessible to trolls and / or bad actors. The people who actually want to read the triggers list can check online. (Yes, I am aware that the trolls can also read the list online.)
3. I saw something in the writing community recently about [this list] that Keri Lake uses. I try to read up on what other authors do in the community, so I went and checked out her list. She does it by individual book. (Her website, by the way, looks great and very professional.) The particular list I linked is for Anathema (a gothic dark fantasy with explicit content). It happens to be longer than the list for any of my books. I’ve been thinking about her list since seeing it. I decided that something similar would suit my needs well.
Why do I bother to include triggers?
A good friend of mine has PTSD. I have seen what happens to her if she is around certain topics without the ability to adequately prepare herself. I would not want to unintentionally cause someone that level of distress. The inclusion of a list of potential triggers allows people like her to review the list and make informed decisions.
