#maiko fandom

This is especially with maiko creators making the fandom such a rigid place especially with treating fanon as canon and harassing others for not following through and half the reason as to why this fandom especially is withering compared to kataang fandom is because the fandom itself kicks people out and just ostracizes them.

Fandoms like kataang exists and is thriving cuz it's welcoming of new creators and ideas whereas maiko fandom rips it's fellow shippers cuz they failed to follow another person's hcs.

Since ashes came out, maiko shippers had different hcs about her career and how it will go when she gets married. Some say she'll stay and teach while others say she'll leave and work on expanding women's rights and opportunities and some say both.

What's the problem with this you may ask? The problem is some maiko shippers taking personal offense over a HEADCAON which isn't real but just words on the internet.

It's even worse when it's those really popular accounts who most shippers admire, can you even think about the emotional damage it may have caused? The creator who you looked up to is now calling u names cuz you didn't align with their views?

Another one is the "proper characterization" in fanfics. Ugh honestly it's just silly fanfics and even tho you're allowed to have ur preferences why do you feel the need to take it to the internet and who are you to cast rules to interpretation?

People can write/hc Mai to be jealous, there is nothing wrong with that, it's their writing,their internet, their space. People can hc Mai to leave the academy and join the palace administration, it's their choice. The entire magic of being in a fandom is having freedom, having the freedom to think, write, draw.

A while ago, I receive a message from a very beloved friends in the maiko fandom telling me about a post about me on x and I looked at it and it was so upsetting. This person had accused me of stealing headcanons out of all things.

My first instincts was to message the account and explain myself which i did and eventually I went into the thread and read over and over again. It was so upsetting I logged out of tumblr and x

But I realized why am I loosing sleep over a random person's interpretation of me? I know myself and my thought and I know I didn't copy because the headcanins I was accused of vry basic (non derogatory) I went and I brsvely defended myself on the internet.

And before the movie leaks came out, I was out of the maiko fandom for a few months because I was in a maiko space which was so toxic with occasional good times.

The maiko fandom is disappearing cuz of these prominent accounts who dont care about the other person, they're not here for fandom content, they're here to criticize as if they're paying these people to post what they're posting.

And even tho there is a level of necessity to calling people out like reposting art which is genuinely so weird, you can just talk to them privately and only if they aren't responding properly must you take it to the outer sphere.

Fanfic writers, hc blogs and fanarts don't owe you anything to perfectly go according to your hcs.

A few months ago I got harassed cuz I posted maiko pre breakup in the comics to the lyrics of "i'm losing myself and i'm afraid you're gonna lose me too" 😭😭😭 if u don't like what I'm posting you're free to scroll away.

If you guys want the maiko fandom to still exist and have an actual renaissance like kataang, I highly advice you to encourage your writers and artists and most importantly keep your opinions to yourself!!!!

Not even a freaking maiko reunion could fix this fandom unless you stop having a meltdown cuz a 12 yo maiko shipper wrote Mai as jealous

Go make oomfs! Go write stupid fics ad don't care if u made sure to write Mai with scientifically accurate hair color.

I'm not tagging anyone or sending hate to anyone, I'm just voicing my opinions and I don't care if u were to block me or talk bad about me in ur little gc

Writing this makes me feel so pathetic cuz I'm talking so seriously about. "Hcs" and "maiko" "fanfics" do you guys who go on everyday about ur little criticisms not feel the same way lmao?

Another thing which ive observed from a beloved account and their reason for leaving was weird people in the maiko fandom who supports gen0cide, r@pists and this is a horrible issue so go and support ur fellow maiko shipper even if they're even torn apart by a bigger person

Established gcs are so toxic if the people aren't welcoming but its especially toxic if the people in the gc aren't doing anything about a person's questionable behavior.

(sorry for lwk dumping this on you )

Hello, dear anon ❤️ Thank you for the sweet words and don't worry about "dumping" anything on me. I would be glad to help if I can.

I didn't just go through a slump, I went through almost completely leaving the fandom because of the things in my life. It started as a break, but then more and more things happened, and then the full-scale war in my country started, so it all just added to the already huge pile. I'll tell you all a secret here, I didn't "plan" to come back. Of course, I thought about my blog from time to time but it wasn't planned at all. But now I'm here and I'm replying to the asks. Life is full of wonders. So, back to your question.

I think it depends on the reasons why you feel this way. If you're going through something in your life in general, then you should focus on your physical/mental health, and ask for help/go to therapy if possible (it did help me!). I would also recommend eliminating triggers if possible (maybe certain tags or media. For example, when the russian invasion of Ukraine started, I couldn't read/watch anything connected to this topic because of the mental state I'd been in. I wasn't even able to re-watch A:tla or read Remarque, for example). So please do not hurt yourself even more and be kind to yourself! ❤️

If your question concerns mostly maiko/maiko fandom, I can tell you the next:

1. First of all, never ever delete anything (whether it's your blog with reblogs, your folder with maiko arts/fics, or your own fics or anything related to maiko). I know sometimes we all feel like Aang, we want to run away from it and hide, or burn bridges (people have different reasons for leaving the ship). But if you're on the creative side of the fandom and you've been making any form of content, don't delete it. Save it or archive it. Because you might miss it and regret being so harsh to yourself afterward. And I assure you, there is always at least one person that would love your fics/posts/arts and cherish you, and root for you! There will be a person who will remember about your writing after a few years and would want to reread it, believe me. So don't delete it! Just leave it.

(I was so embarrassed because of some of my old headcanons and fics, I didn't like the pace and I made grammar mistakes. I wrote them in 2021... It's 2025 now and people read again my Victorian Maiko AU haha. And they love it, mostly. It makes me glad I didn't delete it).

2. Again, if you're a writer like me, don't pressure yourself to create anything. I know it's easier to get into this habit of constantly pushing yourself or demanding things from yourself. It's easy to compare yourself to other creators. But you are allowed to take a break, as long as you need. The world can wait. The fandom can wait. You don't owe anyone anything. And you're supposed to enjoy writing for maiko, not feel guilty. I had the longest break possible, I swear I haven't written anything atla or fanfiction-related for years. The last time I was so active was in 2021. I returned in 2025, do the math if you want. My blog was archived, my posts were abandoned, my headcanons forgotten, my readers probably were so upset with it... and me. But I seriously needed to step out of it and focus on other things. Your creating for the fandom shouldn't be an ordeal, ok? It's not a job. And even if it were a job, even comic writers write about maiko once in a blue moon lmao (sad tears). We're all supposed to do it out of love!

3. I think like many people out there, I see fiction as some sort of escape from reality. So if you do love Mai and Zuko (and their relationship, or any fiction for that matter), let it fuel you instead of pulling down. Let it be your safe space, your training ground for expressing your ideas or something that can genuinely make you smile. If a fictional relationship between two cartoons makes me smile, then screw it - I will enjoy it and I will fangirl over it, and giggle when I see cute arts. Why not?

4. You can always be a passive consumer in the fandom. I was like this for a while, I haven't made posts, and I haven't written headcanons (the literal thing I got known for!). I just enjoyed maiko content silently and dropped kudos/likes here and there. My blog was alive mostly because of excessive reblogging of maiko arts and posts, I always love to support/encourage maiko creators. We're a small fandom and we should stick together. Things like Maiko Week or Mai Week, or Izumi Week were nice to observe too.

5. I don't know the reason that makes you lose your spark but if that's atla perception or certain opinions - don't let them come for your neck. I got upset many times because of certain ships, their words about maiko, and even certain opinions and perceptions of Mai and Zuko inside the maiko nation. I was also criticized several times because of my view of maiko, or my view of how comics massacred my boy Zuko (I still stand by it). But if I had let them cloud my judgment and my love for maiko, I wouldn't have been writing this now. So, don't let fandom things get to you! It's just a show, they're just cartoons. You can have your own opinion that might not resonate with others, we're all different and it's alright. And lol, real life is so much bigger and much more meaningful than fandom stuff, anyways.

6. And last but not least - find your maiko friends (or allies) within the maiko community. The people who will stand by your side when some users criticize you. The people that will write to you to ask how you're doing or what you think about this/that. It will help you to stay excited and present. And ngl it's always nice to obsess over maiko with someone who loves them as much as you do. I used to write under posts/arts or reply to things people sent me/asked me. Like I said, it's important for me to support maiko creators, so I went there like a boss and wrote "I LOVE YOUR ART/FIC" under their works. Then, there were lovely maiko fans who were writing to me messages or left comments. That's how I found some of my friends from other countries. Because of maiko. Because that's why fandoms exist!! To enjoy it and create beautiful connections.

(That's why I have new ideas for maiko fics. Because my maiko friends are as crazy about maiko as me and I got obsessed with BlueMai recently).

You can join our maiko discord server (if you're not there already) or you can always write there to me if you wanna talk (my username is @myriadsandme and I have beautiful-beautiful Mai on my profile pic, you won't miss it). There is something wrong with my Tumblr inbox/messages lately, better chances to contact me on discord.

That's it, dear anon. I know it's a lot to read and process but I hope I was able to help you, at least a bit. Just remember to be kind to yourself and try to enjoy being in the fandom as it is. You're probably stronger than you give yourself credit for (because you've already reached out to me). Stay safe and take care ❤️

What are your favorite Maiko fanart/fanartists?

What are your favorite Maiko fanfics/ fic writers?

What are your favorite Maiko headcanons?

hiii! i'm glad to share my favorites with you (and everyone else in maiko fandom). i'll just share nicknames of my favorite maiko creators :3

my favorite maiko artists: viria, @moonmeg (who also drew arts to my headcanons), @bluespiritshonour (who also created amazing arts to my hc), @toastyydoodles, @eevesdrop, @lydiahosek (i love love illustrations to my hcs), @yoshipeach and also other amazing artists that i reblogged here.

bonus: @amesscott made amazing maiko video edits <3

my favorite maiko fic writers (on ao3): Xanadian, starbunny86, @smilindesperado, earlgreylover98, Smediterranea, MeasurelessCaverns

you can also check my bookmarks on ao3 with a maiko tag (there might be some issues with a link because i've recently changed my user's name)

bonus 2: i wrote some fics too but shh

and for the headcanons... i'm sure there are many amazing posts out there but my favorite headcanons are written by me (not really a surprise haha) . i mean... maiko nation did call me a maiko authority and the main maiko blog at a time so i think my hcs are ok. they're all with a hashtag #flameohotfamilyheadcanons --> that's like a main tag that some fans even recognize haha

stories about how unhappy zuko and mai are pining for each other? yes, sir!

stories how they cannot conceive a child? yes, please.

miscarriage(s)? that’s almost canon!

stories about mai’s death and single dad zuko? yes, we read it.