Smutlancer Spotlight: Lotus RopeWolf and Blane

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day, Smutlancers!!! Whether you celebrated Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, or SAD (Single Awareness Day), I hope you and your loved ones made the most out of the day.

Since February is the month of love (and Black History), I had the pleasure of interviewing two lovebirds in the smutlancing field: Lotus Ropewolf and Blane.

Lotus RopeWolf (he/him) and Blane (she/her) are romantic partners who love BDSM so much they came together to teach. Their relationship includes BDSM (D/S dynamics) and ethical non-monogamy.

Lotus is a professional dominant who specializes in rope and sensation play. Blane is a licensed massage therapist, copywriter, and professional submissive. As they grew and shared the journey along the way, they found themselves interacting with more curious kinksters around the country. Questions ranging from play partnerships and vetting to various archetypes in Kink pushed them to open themselves for consults and conversations but it was not enough. This need for information and desire for experience prompted them to curate various private events (now virtual due to COVID-19) for open-minded people to learn hands-on Kink/BDSM practices and dynamics.

Together they use their skills and experience to make information accessible to kinksters at every stage of their journey.

I met them at my job when they were shopping for bondage items. I liked their energy, so we followed each other on Instagram and I’ve been mesmerized by their journey ever since. During the interview, we talk about how they got started, content creation, what a typical day looks like for them as a power couple, and much more. Check out the full interview below.

How do you make money as a smutlancer? What topic and/or type of content do you get paid to create?

Blane: As a smutlancer, I make content that centers around kink/BDSM [and] intimacy. I [also] work as an educator with my partner teaching virtual workshops and I am a licensed massage therapist. Before the pandemic, I offered erotic massages.

Lotus: I get paid to create workshops, events, and private moments that help people prioritize intimacy and connection.

How long have you been a smutlancer? When did you get interested in sex and creating content about it?

Blane: I became interested in creating content about sex three years ago. Over the years, I have had platforms deleted by Instagram. I had to think about creating content that wouldn’t be subject to heavy censorship. I was encouraged by my partner to explore copywriting and strengthen my skills working with him.

Lotus: It’s been two years. About three years ago I had the idea. I began investing in the acquisition of knowledge and skills to make it happen.

Are you a full-time or part-time smutlancer? Do you have a day job?

Blane: I am a full-time smutlancer. I am a sex worker. I did sensual massages before the pandemic.

Lotus: I’m a full-time smutlancer [but] I freelance as a consultant in nonprofit administration [as my day job].

Are you open with anyone about the work you do? Do you only tell close friends and family or are you public about your work? Do you work under a pseudonym?

Blane: I work under a pseudonym which is a part of my name. I have very recently begun to open my smutlancer space to friends. My very close friends know the work I do. I have been letting others in too but I’m still careful. There are parts of my life the I don’t share in my smutlancer space to keep privacy.

Lotus: I only tell close friends and family but I work publicly under a pseudonym, Lotus RopeWolf.

When and how did you realize this was what you wanted to do professionally?

Blane: When I realized I could make money doing what I love which is connecting people and genuinely interacting with them.

Lotus: Three years ago, I was working full-time at a non-profit organization. It was a good position for someone my age to have, but it was weighing on my emotional and mental health. One thing that helped keep me sane while working that stressful job was exploring BDSM. While exploring BDSM, I developed a love for rope bondage and rope play. I grew in my dominance and explored that. I enjoy the feeling of dominance and having someone trust me completely just as much as I enjoy educating and knowing these folks coming to my classes trust me.

How did you get started and how long before you felt like you had “made it”?

Blane: I got my official start as a smutlancer while in massage therapy school. I was approached by a woman who was seeking massage therapists. I was trained to do sensual massage, [which] was five years ago. I had a private studio. I picked my writing back up and started writing for others, which led to writing curriculum and educational programs. I’m happy to create a community via the internet in the time of the pandemic.

Lotus: I started investing in quality equipment and attending more events. My first collaborators were friends I trusted. My first paying client was a close friend who was exploring kink. I attended a kink event for Black kinksters. While there, I was tying people and had a great time. The curator of the event hired me to work as a rope top for her next party. I haven’t “made it” yet. I have a long way to go.

What’s one thing you wish you had known when you started creating content about sex or became a smutlancer?

Blane: How much work it takes. There is not a time where I’m thinking of my next piece of content. The different types etc. Thinking about managing my platform and interacting. It’s a level of entrepreneurship I’ve never known. You’re constantly thinking about everything. You want to stand out but you want to be authentic. I was a sex worker before I was a content creator. Some details didn’t matter because there were details in my physical work. Being in front of the camera talking on the internet is different.

Lotus: I wish someone told me how much time and effort goes into creating content.

What does a typical day look like for you when you’re smutlancing?

Blane: I usually think about what I’m going to do the night before so I have a list. After wake and bake, we jump into it. We meet [and] we look at our calendar. I’m usually in charge of the deadlines. We delegate the work equally between us. During this time, I’m responding to emails, creating scripts, designing fliers, editing and designing our course work, planning our next workshops, etc. We designate days for shooting content. For example, If it’s a shooting day, we talk about what to wear and what the shoot requires. We dedicate time to recording content then, I jump in and edit. We try to stop working at reasonable hours, but I’m a night owl. I tend to burn the midnight oil.

Lotus: My partner and I typically start the day with a wake and bake. We follow up with breakfast and going over the day’s agenda. We break off to handle our designated tasks and throughout the day we check-in with each other. We make time to have lunch together too! During my time alone, I could be doing various things like checking emails, responding to my private messages on my social platforms, studying, practicing rope, and working on my part of the projects we have in the queue.

What, if anything, is your favorite content to create or type of smutlancing work to do?

Blane: Right now, I enjoy making educational videos with Lotus. He got me a mic. Now I can record more extensive content that sounds great. I enjoy sitting in front of the camera and vibing.

Lotus: I love to shoot videos of rope bondage moments.

In a perfect world, what would you want your legacy to be as a smutlancer?

Blane: I want people to know that I wanted people to explore a pleasure-centered life without regret and I aspire to live it. Everything I wanted for those people, I wanted for myself.

Lotus: A safe society for sex workers.

What do you absolutely need to have when you’re ready to sit down and work to be productive?

Blane: I like [playing] Robert Glasper in the background, smelling essential oils from my diffuser and [wearing] something comfortable. I do as much as possible to eliminate brain fog.

Lotus: I like to have water and snacks nearby. If I need to concentrate, I’ll put my headphones on and play some Lo-Fi.

Who or what inspired you to become a smutlancer?

Blane: A friend I made at the beginning of my journey. She was a fellow sex worker and helped me to grow more confident. She was and still is my main inspiration. She loved and was proud. She taught me to have pride in my work. And I teach people how to have pride.

Lotus: I was inspired by Audre Lorde’s essay, “Uses of the Erotic, the Erotic as a Source of Power.” It made me think critically about pleasure, shame, and purpose.

Are there any social/charitable causes that are close to your heart and connected to your work as a smutlancer?

Blane: Sex Worker Liberation, the BANK Collective are some.

Lotus: Bail funds, legalizing marijuana [and] affordable housing policy are [social/charitable causes] at the top of my list.

Name the best, strangest, funniest, wildest thing you’ve experienced as a smutlancer.

Blane: The most exciting [experience] was around Lotus’s couple’s rope workshop. I enjoyed the conversations and planning for that event as we grew closer as partners. That was the day [he] put a camera in my hand and trusted me. I unlocked a new skill. Everything went smoothly. I’m proud to be a part of that.

Follow Lotus RopeWolf on Twitter and Instagram and/or follow Blane on Twitter and Instagram. Support their work and learn from them through their Patreon: With Lotus and Blane