Opinion Question

[lyriel]

Greetings, everyone. Hope this question is appropriate for this comm; if not then feel free to delete.

I would like to hear people's feelings on the following issue. I know it's subjective, so there's no "right answer", probably:

How would you handle warning/tagging for a fic where it *seems* like a major character has died, but it later turns out that he didn't? Think of a Sherlock Holmes type of situation where someone disappears, is presumed dead, then comes back a few years later.

Would you use the "Major Character Death" warning on AO3? How can I warn/tag this story properly without giving away the plot twist? Would you feel disturbed/squicked/annoyed if you read a story like this and there was no specific warning for "major character death"?

Can I get away with using a vague warning like "dark themes"?


Assume that the death is not graphically described, and this is a canon where death and violence are not common occurrences.

Thanks in advance; this one has been puzzling me.

Comments

[inevitableentresol]

From the writer's side, I would choose not to warn. Don't give away the plot twist.

From the reader's side: In a way, if you don't use the Major Character Death tag, or you do use it, you're spoiling the story either way. Half way through, the reader is going to figure out what's up if you don't use it.

Choose not to warn, but perhaps explain in the header notes that the character(s) deal with a death during the fic? That's nicely non-specific. As a reader, I'd want the mourning warned for more than the death itself.

[lyriel]

Thanks for your thoughts.