Death Story Warnings
A while ago I ran a poll on what kind (if any) death story warnings people wanted - I apologise most sincerely for the amount of time it has taken me to post the results.
Apart from it being clear that the majority of people did want to be warned for a character death, there wasn't any real overwhelming consensus as to which particular characters (other than Gibbs and Ducky) should be warned for. Therefore I'll make the decision.
In an effort to be as fair to everyone who expressed an opinion as I can (excluding anyone who didn't want a death story warning), I am going to say that the death of any major canon character should carry a 'major canon character death' warning.
I'm quite happy for people to simply put 'major canon character death' or 'death of major canon character' (or whatever suits the individual writer) as a warning for all characters. However, if the writer feels that she/he would rather say 'major character - non-pairing death', when it isn't Gibbs and/or Ducky who has died, that's also fine. The kind of warning is down to the individual writer, but a warning for the death of a major character must be given. A warning isn't necessary for post-Twilight stories in which Kate's death might merely be mentioned in passing, unless the writer would feel happier doing so.
Also, if a writer feels it necessary to warn for minor canon character deaths (and I know that some writers do feel they personally need to warn for all deaths), e.g. Mrs. Mallard, then that is entirely up to them. I would, however, suggest that the warning is 'minor canon character death'.
Major canon characters are:
Gibbs
Ducky
Abby
McGee
Jimmy
DiNozzo
Ziva
Jenn
Kate (if she dies in an AU story pre-Twilight)
Gerald
Tom Morrow
Fornell
I hope this satisfies the majority of both readers and writers. I am aware that it won't satisfy those who simply do not want a death story warning at all, and for that I do apologise. However, I am going with the majority.
Thank you for casting your votes and sharing your opinions. Again, I apologise for the inordinate length of time it has taken me to post the results.
Apart from it being clear that the majority of people did want to be warned for a character death, there wasn't any real overwhelming consensus as to which particular characters (other than Gibbs and Ducky) should be warned for. Therefore I'll make the decision.
In an effort to be as fair to everyone who expressed an opinion as I can (excluding anyone who didn't want a death story warning), I am going to say that the death of any major canon character should carry a 'major canon character death' warning.
I'm quite happy for people to simply put 'major canon character death' or 'death of major canon character' (or whatever suits the individual writer) as a warning for all characters. However, if the writer feels that she/he would rather say 'major character - non-pairing death', when it isn't Gibbs and/or Ducky who has died, that's also fine. The kind of warning is down to the individual writer, but a warning for the death of a major character must be given. A warning isn't necessary for post-Twilight stories in which Kate's death might merely be mentioned in passing, unless the writer would feel happier doing so.
Also, if a writer feels it necessary to warn for minor canon character deaths (and I know that some writers do feel they personally need to warn for all deaths), e.g. Mrs. Mallard, then that is entirely up to them. I would, however, suggest that the warning is 'minor canon character death'.
Major canon characters are:
Gibbs
Ducky
Abby
McGee
Jimmy
DiNozzo
Ziva
Jenn
Kate (if she dies in an AU story pre-Twilight)
Gerald
Tom Morrow
Fornell
I hope this satisfies the majority of both readers and writers. I am aware that it won't satisfy those who simply do not want a death story warning at all, and for that I do apologise. However, I am going with the majority.
Thank you for casting your votes and sharing your opinions. Again, I apologise for the inordinate length of time it has taken me to post the results.