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A content note prepares the right reader without giving away your plot, and it lets your book be brave without blindsiding the people you wrote it for.
So you’ve written a book with some sensitive themes. Maybe it mirrors parts of your own story, or maybe you’ve walked alongside someone else’s pain long enough to know its contours. Either way, you’re now facing the question every author with a tender book eventually asks: How do I tell readers what’s inside without giving away the story I worked so hard to build?
Naming what your story holds is hard, especially when the themes live close to your own life. But here’s the thing: you can honor both your craft and your readers’ needs. This guide will help you write a content note that protects privacy, preserves surprise, and still offers the context that helps someone say yes to your book.
What a content note is, and why it helps
A content note is two or three calm lines that name sensitive themes so readers can choose with care. Think of it as the quiet label on the door: what’s inside, what’s not, and the tone of the experience waiting for them.
It’s not a spoiler warning. It’s not a trigger list. It’s a gesture of respect; one that meets survivors where they are and signals that you’ve considered their well-being as much as your story’s impact.
And honestly? It’s also good business. Content notes reduce returns and disappointed reviews caused by mismatched expectations. When readers know what they’re walking into, they can trust you to take them there safely.
Here’s what one might look like:
Content notes: parental estrangement, therapy sessions, complex family dynamics, references to past emotional abuse. No on-page assault. Hopeful ending.
Common Questions about Content Notes
Do I need content notes for my novel?
Yes, if the themes could be activating. One clear line can turn dread into trust. For example: “Complex family dynamics, no on page violence; hopeful ending.”
How do I write a content note for a book?
Use two or three lines. List themes in plain English, clarify what is on page versus off page, and mention the ending tone if helpful. Leave the scenes to the book.
Where do I put content notes in a book?
Place them on retailer product pages, your author site, the back cover, and front matter if space allows. Mirror the same wording on Bookshop and librarian listings.
Are content notes the same as trigger warnings?
No. A trigger warning tries to stop exposure. A content note sets expectations so readers can choose with care. Plain, neutral phrasing works best.
How to write a content note that respects both art and privacy
Keep it spare and factual. Name the central themes in plain English, the kind of language you’d use if a friend asked you, “So what’s your book about, really?”
Clarify what appears on the page versus what remains off the page. When it serves the reader, share the tonal promise. Is this story tender? Steady? Redemptive? Share that so their expectations match the book you actually wrote.
Avoid plot summary. You’re not mapping every turn; you’re setting the emotional terrain so readers can decide if they want to walk it with you.
If the term “trauma-adjacent” fits your work, define it in your own words for this specific book. And be consistent! Reuse the same phrasing everywhere your book appears. Consistency builds trust.
Sensational approach:
“A daughter’s life explodes when her mother returns to destroy everything.”
Ethical approach:
“When her estranged mother reappears, a woman must decide what healing looks like and what boundaries keep her safe.”
See the difference? One sells shock. The other sells journey.
Where to place it for reader clarity
Put your content note wherever a buying decision happens: retailer product pages, your author website, the back cover, or even the front matter of your book itself.
Mirror the same wording on bookshop, library listings, and any distributor platforms. Repeat it in social media captions and podcast show notes. The promise should stay clear from the moment someone discovers your book all the way to the last page.
Your story deserves to find its people. A thoughtful content note helps make sure it does.