NYC Midnight : Creative Writing & Screenwriting Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > GENERAL DISCUSSION > Creative Writing Corner
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Does all horror need a content warning?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Does all horror need a content warning?
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
taaaylor View Drop Down
NYC Midnight Black Belt
NYC Midnight Black Belt
Avatar

Joined: 14 Jul 2018
Location: Idaho
Status: Offline
Points: 5511 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote taaaylor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Does all horror need a content warning?
    Posted: 28 Jan 2023 at 11:52pm
NYCM organizers, if you read this: THANK YOU for adding a space for content warnings on the main submission page! It's a sincere relief to be able to write about difficult topics while giving the courtesy of a warning to judges. I am diagnosed with PTSD, and content warnings truly matter for people who are in different stages of healing from trauma. I'm honestly really heartened to see NYCM display such respect and regard for their readers.

I'm just so relieved and so happy. What a great addition Embarrassed Clap Thank you Charlie and co.! 
MFC100 R1: A Dad Joke Too Far

SSC R2: Titan Armstrong & the Communist Robot

SSC 2021 winner
Back to Top
mistressposte View Drop Down
NYC Midnight Regular
NYC Midnight Regular
Avatar

Joined: 13 Aug 2022
Location: London
Status: Offline
Points: 370 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mistressposte Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2023 at 7:25pm
This is a great question. When I entered the FF (1000 words, I think) I assumed that horror didn't need a CW. But some of the negative feedback was about the violence - it never occurred to me that that could be an issue. However, a CW means that your story will only be shared with judges who are happy to read that kind of content so I will definitely include one moving forward. 

Edited by mistressposte - 28 Jan 2023 at 7:26pm
SCR1 Gr60
SS R1 GR159
MF250 R2
Back to Top
annemarie View Drop Down
NYC Midnight Addict
NYC Midnight Addict


Joined: 26 Jan 2020
Location: WESTERN AUSTRAL
Status: Offline
Points: 916 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote annemarie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2023 at 4:01pm
In my opinion, anyone who reads a horror story should expect some level of violence and gore.  Unless your story deals with some really specific scenes (child abuse, animal torture or the like), I'd say no.
SSR1 Comedy
250 R2 Fairy Tale
All NYCM
Back to Top
LilyCat View Drop Down
NYC Midnight Groupie
NYC Midnight Groupie
Avatar

Joined: 06 Nov 2020
Status: Offline
Points: 161 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LilyCat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2023 at 3:46pm
I typically say "no horror" when I put my name on the beta list, but this time I had to write horror, so... I wrote something that wasn't overtly violent and focused instead on psychological horror, not graphic.

I did decline to beta a story that triggered some of my PTSD, but there's no way the writer would have known about it as it was personal to me, not a common trigger. And that author wasn't writing horror, so it wasn't on them to post any warnings, IMO. It was on me to back away and let it go.

R1 G49 Stationmaster & Sparrow (1st place)
R2 G31 Babysitter
Back to Top
Draiglas View Drop Down
NYC Midnight Black Belt
NYC Midnight Black Belt
Avatar

Joined: 09 May 2020
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 1979 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Draiglas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2023 at 12:21pm
Originally posted by slinkylink slinkylink wrote:

Originally posted by Draiglas Draiglas wrote:

It's not on Submittable but when you go to the backup screen on the NYCM midnight page after submitting, 

I just submitted my short story and see that the content warning option is now on both the main page and backup page. I'm 99% sure it wasn't on the main page for 250 because I would have included it for mine. I'm glad that the CW aren't visible to the judges! That will definitely encourage me to include them next time. 

"While not mandatory, please consider adding content warnings if your story includes graphic sexual content, graphic violence, or anything else you feel would need a warning for the reader. This will not be visible to the judges. But, if any judges would like to opt-out from receiving groups containing certain material, it will help us assign them to different groups. Thank you very much!"

Yeah, I saw that when I did a safety submission earlier. Maybe I was the only person who noticed the CW thing on the backup page so they just decided to make it more obvious now LOL
SS2
MF250R2
Other stories
Back to Top
slinkylink View Drop Down
NYC Midnight Addict
NYC Midnight Addict
Avatar

Joined: 18 Oct 2021
Location: Austin, TX
Status: Offline
Points: 1455 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote slinkylink Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2023 at 11:34am
Originally posted by Draiglas Draiglas wrote:

It's not on Submittable but when you go to the backup screen on the NYCM midnight page after submitting, 

I just submitted my short story and see that the content warning option is now on both the main page and backup page. I'm 99% sure it wasn't on the main page for 250 because I would have included it for mine. I'm glad that the CW aren't visible to the judges! That will definitely encourage me to include them next time. 

"While not mandatory, please consider adding content warnings if your story includes graphic sexual content, graphic violence, or anything else you feel would need a warning for the reader. This will not be visible to the judges. But, if any judges would like to opt-out from receiving groups containing certain material, it will help us assign them to different groups. Thank you very much!"


Edited by slinkylink - 28 Jan 2023 at 11:39am
R1: SW: Second Chance for Car Romance - 1st
R3: 250: Nesting Habits of Backyard Birds - HM + FB
Back to Top
CoachLisaB View Drop Down
NYC Midnight Black Belt
NYC Midnight Black Belt
Avatar

Joined: 08 Oct 2019
Location: Ojai, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 1534 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CoachLisaB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2023 at 8:33pm
Originally posted by nod1v1ng nod1v1ng wrote:

All horror does not need a CW. Something to think about when writing horror is there is a difference between phobias and trauma. I wouldn't put a CW on a horror story about spiders, even though some readers might be arachnophobic. Horror historically leans on phobias to amp up fear. 

Same thing for paranormal horror. I wouldn't put a CW on a story about monster or ghosts, even though they can be scary. Horror is supposed to be scary. 

However, if your story, horror or otherwise, could potentially make a reader relive their own trauma, then a CW is worthwhile. If you feel like it might spoil the story, use the "spoiler" function (or put it in white text that a reader can highlight to reveal.) This way the reader can decide if they want to read the spoiler or not.

I feel like NYCm's guidance is reasonable for what subjects require a CW. But I agree with taaaylor that you can suggest someone adds one. If a reader makes the suggestion that you add one, then add it. It hurts no one, and might make a difference to someone's mental health.

Great points regarding the distinction between phobia and trauma - thank you! I did suggest a CW would be helpful on this particular story, and I later discovered that NYCM suggests a CW for this topic, so I don't think I was out of line.
R1 100
Archive
Back to Top
CoachLisaB View Drop Down
NYC Midnight Black Belt
NYC Midnight Black Belt
Avatar

Joined: 08 Oct 2019
Location: Ojai, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 1534 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CoachLisaB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2023 at 8:28pm
Originally posted by Draiglas Draiglas wrote:

There actually is! It's not on Submittable but when you go to the backup screen on the NYCM midnight page after submitting, they now say in the box for notes something like "Optionally, you may wish to include content warnings for the judges here". I have included content warnings when I don't think it's a massive spoiler in that box (e.g. for FF R4 I didn't since the twist was what caused the trigger warning, but for MF250, I did).

Cool! I never noticed it there.
R1 100
Archive
Back to Top
CoachLisaB View Drop Down
NYC Midnight Black Belt
NYC Midnight Black Belt
Avatar

Joined: 08 Oct 2019
Location: Ojai, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 1534 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote CoachLisaB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2023 at 8:27pm
Originally posted by taaaylor taaaylor wrote:

As a general rule, I don't include content warnings to judges. 


I generally give TWs on posts for real-world trauma or phobias people can really experience. 


I do think it's okay to request people to add trigger warnings. I've done it myself. If you want someone to ask for you, feel free to PM me a link

ETA: Here's another example of a classic horror story with no need for a TW:  https://www.americanfolklore.net/hairy-toe/

Thank you! I wouldn't consider a CW for the judges; definitely just wondering for the forums. I did suggest to the person that they might want to add a warning; thank you for offering, though! Now off to read the story you linked!
R1 100
Archive
Back to Top
Draiglas View Drop Down
NYC Midnight Black Belt
NYC Midnight Black Belt
Avatar

Joined: 09 May 2020
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 1979 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Draiglas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan 2023 at 9:32am
Originally posted by taaaylor taaaylor wrote:

 If NYCM added an optional line on the submittable form for content warnings, that would be great -- assuming that no one is penalized for not being aware a CW should be listed, as it's a somewhat new concept and people without trauma may have no awareness of what should or shouldn't be warned about.

There actually is! It's not on Submittable but when you go to the backup screen on the NYCM midnight page after submitting, they now say in the box for notes something like "Optionally, you may wish to include content warnings for the judges here". I have included content warnings when I don't think it's a massive spoiler in that box (e.g. for FF R4 I didn't since the twist was what caused the trigger warning, but for MF250, I did).

(For the forums, I always include content warnings regardless of twist on the basis that forum readers haven't signed up to read potentially traumatic stuff. I sometimes add non-required ones if I think it's necessary or polite).


Edited by Draiglas - 22 Jan 2023 at 9:35am
SS2
MF250R2
Other stories
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.05
Copyright ©2001-2022 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.250 seconds.