Cozy Kink: Where Shadow Work Meets Dominance
In the inaugural episode of Filthy Fiction With Feelings, I’m laying the foundation for what this podcast (and my year-long serial romance experiment) is really about: erotic storytelling with emotional integrity.
I introduce the concept of cozy kink—BDSM that centers safety, consent, communication, care, and character growth—and explain why my work isn’t dark romance with the edges sanded down, and it’s definitely not “vanilla with handcuffs.” This is kink as emotional architecture. Kink as shadow work. Kink as the most direct route to character transformation.
We dig into:
what I mean by “shadow work” and how it translates to romance craft
the difference between a character’s wound (what happened) and their shadow (what they believe because of it)
why consent and communication are not only necessary, but genuinely sexy in my stories
how I use negotiation, scene structure, and aftercare to do character development on the page
the reader contract I’m making with you when I say “cozy kink”
If you want kink that’s not just hot, but meaningful, if you want romance that’s built for emotional depth—not just vibes—welcome. This is the work.
IN THIS EPISODE
What Filthy Fiction With Feelings is (and what it’s not)
“Cozy kink” defined: safety + intimacy + growth, not shock value
Shadow Work 101 (for people allergic to woo-woo)
Wound vs. shadow: the craft distinction driving the romance arc
Cozy kink vs. dark romance: different emotional questions, different reader contract
Power exchange as emotional architecture (making the quiet part negotiable)
Why kink scenes must be load-bearing in the narrative
How negotiation + aftercare create the best character breakthroughs
Common shadow themes: control, surrender, shame, worthiness, authenticity
Why consent and communication are sexy (and how they reveal character)
What to expect next week: craft commentary on Episode 1 of the serial
This episode discusses BDSM/kink in a craft-focused context, including: power exchange, negotiation, consent practices, safewords/check-ins, and aftercare.
Next week: I’m breaking down the craft and commentary behind the first installment of A Soft Place To Land—why the opening of a cozy kink romance looks different than you might expect, and what emotional foundation I’m building under the heat.
If this episode resonated for you, subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and follow along on Substack. New chapters drop Fridays at 3 PM EST, and the first seven episodes are free.
