I think we’ve all had a book that we started to read, then had to stop because they included that one thing in it. Everyone has personal lines that they draw when it comes to the media they consume, and I respect that. Whenever a new book or movie comes out, there’s always some discourse about who it’s suitable for. I will never forget reading a two-star review of Captain America: the Winter Solder, where a mother complained that the movie was not at all appropriate for her seven-year-old. That particular incident was obviously not the fault of the people involved in the creation of that movie, as it is clearly rated PG-13. But since there isn’t a rating system for books, I think that it’s very important for us as authors to be completely honest with our readers about the content in our books.

To make it easier for my readers, I have compiled a list of the content that they should be aware of in my novels and other stories. I want to be completely transparent about what my readers will find in my work, that way I can reach my target audience, and my readers won’t have any unpleasant surprises.

A quick note: My different types of stories will include varying levels of content depending on my target audience. For example, my stageplays were written to be performed by me and my high-school friends, so they are much more family friendly. I plan for my Between the Earth and Hell book series to be targeted towards adults, so it is on the heavier end of my content.

I tried to cover the main topics that readers should know going in. I’ll update this with any other topics I may have missed.

Violence: 4/5

Be prepared for blood, gore, and all kinds of weapons in my writing. People will be shot. People will be stabbed. There will be gory crime scenes. Characters will die. I don’t shy away from violence in my stories. (Especially in the ones that involve organized crime, etc., but even in my comedies, there are characters with machetes and jars of fingers on their desk.)

Spice: 2/5

I had to look at a lot of different charts to try to decide this, but in the majority of them, 2/5 fits for the spice level of my romance plots. While it is “closed-door,” there is still a good bit of sexual tension, and description of what is happening leading up to the “fade-to-black.” Though I do love writing lowkey spicy scenes, I do tend to lean more into the romantic side of my characters’ relationships. My romance plots have been described as “non-toxic,” which I plan to stick with in current and future projects.

Language: 3/5

I think that every word has a correct time and place to be used, and I particularly enjoy a well placed swear in books I read. (Looking at you, Leigh Bardugo, writing ten-year-old Kaz Brekker.) I think that curse words are very realistic to include in dialogue and internal monologues, especially when I put my characters into such stressful situations. That being said, I’m not going to have F-bombs in every other sentence. Just like any other words, I try not to overuse cursing to the point where my writing seems immature or repetitive. When it comes to slurs or derogatory terms, I will not include them unless if I have invented one for my fictional world. (For example, my Between the Earth and Hell series includes derogatory terms for people who don’t have magic.)

Substance Usage: 3/5

People drink. People smoke. People are addicted to things. I don’t think there’s anything I have to explain in detail for this category.

Intensity: 4/5

I know that this is very general, but with the rise of the “cozy” genre, I feel like that is important to note. My stories are the antonym of cozy, and definitely fall into the categories of “fast-paced” and “high-stakes.” I write what I like to read, and for me, that’s going to be an intense story that has me hanging over every page.

Things that you will NEVER find in my writing: Depictions of sexual violence, animal cruelty, or violence against children. While those topics are very real and should not be dismissed or ignored, I will not write scenes that describe them. I may include conversations about a character’s trauma from experiencing of one of those things in the past or currently, but I am not personally comfortable with describing it in detail.

I think the bottom line is that I do everything in my power to create realistic worlds, and that means that it’s not going to be sunshine and roses all the time. My worlds will include things that might be censored on daytime television. But as any good writer, I try not to use anything to the point of excessiveness. I will try to be transparent about what I include, and at the end of the day, if you decide that my content isn’t for you, I completely respect your decision. I always encourage people to do whatever it takes to protect their own personal peace, even if that means leaving my book on the shelf at the bookstore.