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  • Content related to blogging. Thoughts and musings.

  • Project Blog Site Adjustment

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    Project Blog Site Adjustment

    project blog site adjustment

    So if you read last weekend’s edition of THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION, it was revealed that I spent last week working on this website behind the scenes while I wait on the editor for AXIOM-MAN/CRIMSON CLOAK: SCARLET SYNERGY and for my [hopeful] blurb for CAUGHT IN BLACK HEADLIGHTS. (The latter is presently airing on Patreon.)

    This is an old site. If you’ve been with me even for just the past 5 or 6 years, you know a lot of content has been put up here. And as good as that is–because I want you guys to have content–technology and software is changing all the time (as we all know) so there are parts of this site on the interface side of things where all this content is produced that needs updating and adjustment.

    I’ve managed to create an organized workflow to get it done and thus far have altered the Book and Comic Shop and the titles therein (plus a few other page tweeks). If you check it out, you’ll notice the book pages are laid out differently than before. This was a move to get rid of some old, unnecessary coding that, while it worked for a while, could have been better in terms of title presentation so that’s what I did: Made the book pages pretty just for you. Awww.

    So you might notice over the next bit slight modifications to this site in terms of appearance. I like this blog site the way it is in terms of having the columns with the books and other bonuses along the sides with the main content in the middle. Keeps the fun stuff easily accessible while you peruse the content down the center.

    Anyway, website-wise, that’s what’s been going down. It’s a bit of a big project on the whole but easy to manage when broken into chunks.

    I look forward to having it done within the next month or so. It’s kind of a pick-at project so will take some time.

    Cheers.


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  • Some Thoughts on Blogging

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    Some Thoughts on Blogging

    station ident apr2420

    Just sitting here thinking about blogging. It’s considered a great sin in the blogging world for a blogger to blog about blogging. But, every now and then should be okay, right?

    To be honest, I don’t have much to add to the idea of blogging or what a blog is. I mean, what is a blog anymore? A long, long time ago in an Internet far, far away, blogs were basically public journals where writers–pro or hobby–could express thoughts and opinions on whatever topic, post it up for the world to see, then hope someone out there agrees with them.

    I’ve been thinking about this blog here at Canister X, the Realm of Heroes and Monsters. It’s not really a blog, is it? I mean, kind of. It’s runs on a WordPress engine so thus a blogging platform. The site’s divided into sections and pages, I have the main window of this place to share whatever I want on any given day, and I try and encourage you to explore the site because there’s lots here from articles, to comics, to artwork, to videos, to podcasts–I mean, we’re not really blogging anymore per se. We’re not journaling or running a series of articles on a topic as our main thing either. We’re just sharing art and writing and hoping to entertain and inform you. That’s it.

    This site–this place–is more a multimedia hub than a blog-blog. And that’s how I’ve been viewing it for a while: A place of free entertainment and a celebration of pop culture, superheroes, and monsters.

    Just some random thoughts this early Sunday afternoon (the time I’m writing this).

    Well, let’s just go forward step by step and take it from there.

    “Every day’s a brand new deal, right? Just keep on working and something’s bound to turn up.” – Harvey Pekar, AMERICAN SPLENDOR

    Peace.

    – APF


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  • The Canister X Transmission: TinyLetter Archive About to be Gone

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    The Canister X Transmission: TinyLetter Archive About to be Gone

    canister x transmission collections

    As you know, we had to change newsletter services about a month or so back since MailChimp decided to pull the plug on TinyLetter. This is the original blog post.

    MailChimp sent out a reminder email the other day to everyone using the TinyLetter service that the archive and accessibility to one’s account is going up in flames at the end of February 2024 so a person had best get going on exporting their reader list otherwise you’d have to build from the ground-up again. Fortunately, we already took care of our newsletter problem and if you’d like to join us, you can do so here.

    As for THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION TinyLetter archive, this will only be avilable until the end of next month so if you’d like to read as many issues as you want (except for the past five or six newsletters as they were sent via MailerLite), you need to do so before then and can go here to read them. Enjoy.

    Onward.

    – APF


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  • Happy New Year 2024 (2023 in Review)

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    Happy New Year 2024 (2023 in Review)

    Happy New Year 2024

    Happy New Year, everybody! Yeah, I know this post isn’t on New Year’s Day but I wanted to wish you all the best before the clock strikes 12 tonight.

    For this entry, I’m going to reprint yesterday’s New Year’s edition of THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION. If you like what you read and would like to subscribe, please use the subscription form to the left of your screen if you’re on a desktop. If not, please go here.

    Thanks.

    Enjoy.

    Issue Three Hundred-three – December 30, 2023

    Telecom handheld transmission:

    Welcome to Issue 303 of THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION and the final issue of THE VERY LONG YEAR SIX for 2023.

    This past year was a busy one both professionally and personally, the majority of my time spent either working or sleeping. But we got a lot done and laid a firm foundation for PROJECT REBUILD 2.0. I’m happy with all that was accomplished this year and also am enjoying the feeling of finally being back into the swing of things.

    This issue is going to be structured like all the rest but we’re going to gear each section as a kind of look-back on the year, but before we do, I promised my thoughts on New Year’s resolutions last issue so here they are: New Year’s resolutions, though well-intended in concept, are ridiculous because, objectively speaking, they have zero effect on the flow of Time. Sure, we as a species divided Time into chunks as per the solar cycle, but that doesn’t change Time as a whole. Time is Time, an unbeatable and unmanipulative force that we’re a part of the second we’re conceived through to our deaths.

    In short, every day/evening/night is New Year’s resolution day. Lift off the calendar grid and we’re all just a bunch of fish swimming along Time’s current and only headed in one direction. That said, we can make our resolutions at any moment. We can act upon them at any moment. We also cannot act upon them at any moment.

    The choice is ours.

    * * *

    Work log:

    2024’s road map has been laid and this week we took a look at, and acted upon, some items of that map. Other parts were planned and locked down in terms of a we-first-do-this-then-we-do-that, step-by-step kind of way, which is how my brain is wired for any project, creative or not. I like to get the overview first with the endpoint made clear, then I look at the path to get there and break down the nuts and bolts of the goal so I know the thought-through way to get there as efficiently as possible while allowing grace for human error (because human error is also an unstoppable force).

    This week’s work, due to Christmas and being on holidays, was pretty much cut in half as a result. But we still got stuff done and still maintained a holiday schedule because, as you know, this break was much-needed.

    In short, we got things set up for the early part of 2024 so there will be a smooth transition when the clock strikes midnight tomorrow.

    * * *

    Blog headlines:

    vLog – The Lord of the Rings vs The Dark Tower (Hollywood, Listen Up!)

    Realm of Heroes and Monsters: Story Time Podcast Episode 18

    Canister X Mailbag – Custom Funko Pop! Figures Christmas Unboxing – 10312023 – 122523

    Boxing Week eBook Sale!

    2024 Business Formulation: The House

    The Way of the Fog (The Ark of Light Volume One)

    Look, Up on the Screen! The Big Book of Superhero Movie Reviews Book Spotlight

    vLog – Writer Rider? (Roger, Roger)

    * * *

    Content notice:

    As is the usual around here, we made stuff for the public and for patrons.

    Public:

    Hotwheels Dream Garage Bone Shaker

    Writer/Artist A.P. Fuchs Funko Pop! Figure – Merry Christmas

    Hotwheels 55th Anniversary ’67 Camaro

    Green Goblin Marvel Legends Retro Action Figure

    DC Justice League 2” Superman Figures (blue suit and black suit)

    Look, Up on the Screen! The Big Book of Superhero Movie Reviews Book Spotlight Teaser

    Patreon:

    My Secret (from CAUGHT IN BLACK HEADLIGHTS)

    ZOMTROPOLIS – 17

    * * *

    Release notice (a different sort of list):

    This year was packed with releases across various mediums. To round them up, I’ve broken them down into sections for you.

    Books:

    THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION: YEAR FOUR

    THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION: THE LONG YEAR FIVE

    ZOMTROPOLIS: A RECORD OF LIFE IN A DEAD CITY

    Comics and cartoons:

    FREDRIKUS Episode 38: Lobster (comic)

    FRED THE DOG IN “ONCE UPON A WEINER” (cartoon)

    AXIOM-MAN: Short Animated Film (cartoon; co-writer)

    FRED THE DOG IN “ONCE UPON A WEINER” (storyboard video with cartoon comparison)

    FIGHTING AND OTHER ANIMATED SHORTS AND ARTWORK (cartoon)

    Video:

    A ton of videos and shorts and reels were created this past year, all focusing on superheroes and monsters and my books and comics.

    I’m looking to grow the channel so I invite you to subscribe and check out the stuff that’s there. Some cool stuff planned for 2024 so might as well get in on the ground floor.

    Here’s the channel’s trailer.

    Audio:

    At the end of August we launched my first podcast, THE REALM OF HEROES AND MONSTERS: STORY TIME with A.P. FUCHS. New episode every Sunday. We’re 18 episodes of 30 into Season 1. After the season is done, we’ll take a month-long break then come back with Season 2 of which we’ll shake up the program and still deliver on story time.

    The podcast is currently available for your listening (and viewing) pleasure at:

    YouTube

    YouTube Music

    Canister X

    Spotify

    Blog/web:

    Lots of content went out via the socials. The best place to ensure you and I are hooked up via various social channels is by checking out my LinkTree, which then branches off to my various web hideouts. Join me and let’s connect.

    And, of course, we maintained a steady blog schedule, delivering content 6 days a week, sometimes 7.

    We also launched Patreon 2.0 and stacked it with content along with a basic tier structure:

    $1 – General tip jar; my gratitude for your support is your reward.

    $5 – All access to both public and patron-only content. There is a ton of content for both on the site. Serial books and comics, essays and articles, videos, photography, artwork, and more. I hope you join the journey.

    Newsletter:

    We resumed THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION and had to find a new transmission service along the way. I’m still getting used to using MailerLite hence why the past couple of issues had some unnecessary text.

    As for TinyLetter, presently the site is still up along with THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION back issues. Subscribing via that site is no longer an option and I don’t know if or when my TinyLetter page will come down so if you want to read the back issues, now’s the time. You can also support this newsletter by purchasing the collected editions (complete with a bonus issue unavailable anywhere else) in paperback or eBook via the usual suspects.

    * * *

    As we head into 2024, and as of the writing of this newsletter, my headspace is split in two. One side is focused on creating, the other focused on the business side and the necessary prep for doing shows, delivering content, maintaining the unseen business stuff behind the scenes, and the upcoming tax season.

    I had hoped to accomplish a lot more during this winter break but to be honest, I desperately needed to slow down so I did get some stuff done, just not all.

    2024 is coming. Time to finish resting up.

    Have a great New Year’s Eve and, please, stay safe.

    Thanks for spending 2023 with me.

    All the best,

    A.P. Fuchs

    Happy New Year 2024, MB

    End transmission

    Thanks for sticking with me this year and digging into what I’ve been bringing into the Web. More to come.

    So, again, Happy New Year 2024!


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  • 2024 Business Formulation: The House

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    2024 Business Formulation: The House

    2024 Business Formulation: The House

    If you’re a working artist or writer, you’re a business. No other way to look at it. Work in exchange for funds. That said, with a flooded market and publishers doing less and less for their creators, it’s on the creator to advocate for their own work. How hard you advocate determines the success of your project (to a degree; usually a fairly significant degree).

    I have a lot of odds and ends on the business side of all this that need tending to. Some of it is standard business maintenance, others parts are new ventures to augment my books and comics. Some will be done via trial-and-error, other parts will be sureties. That’s not to say there is a recipe for succeess because what works for one creator doesn’t always work for another.

    As I wrap up 2023, the bits and pieces I’ll need for 2024 are becoming more and more clear. Some tasks are simple so it’s just an issue of simply doing it, checking the box, then leaving it alone. Other items are ongoing, and as I explained in one of my patron-only essays, I employ as much tech help as is possible/affordable/reasonable to get done what needs doing because I’m a one-man show.

    2023 was certainly a year of establishing PROJECT REBUILD 2.0 and maintaining that foundation. 2024 is about building upon it with small goals that’ll eventually lead to a house. But how are houses built? Foundation (done), first floor (in progress), second floor (conceptualized). The shiny doorknobs and window drapes and crown molding will come later. As it stands right now, 2024’s first floor to my house is currently being framed on top of the completed basement. Since I know my schedule and limits, 2024 is about the first floor as the primary goal. If the first floor is built ahead of schedule before year’s end, then work will begin on the second floor, and if not, no problem because I’d be happy just getting the first floor done by this time next year.

    Yes, I’m talking in metaphors, but it’s the best way to explain this past year and the plans for next.

    This year is in the bag. Done. Basement complete. Time to pull out the tongue-and-groove flooring and start locking it down on the joists.

    We have walls to build.


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  • Christmas Holiday 2023 Creative Plans

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    Christmas Holiday 2023 Creative Plans

    Christmas Holiday 2023 Creative Plans

    Last week of working like a dog then a holiday break for 10 days. Really needed and really looking forward to it . . . but that doesn’t mean I’ll be doing absolutely zero.

    While there will be little things to get done during the break, namely life stuff, here is my general holiday overview divided into blocks big and small.

    Dec. 22 – Midday. Nap (if work is done early)

    Dec. 23 – Festivus. Decompression day and the airing of grievances on my Facebook page to help with the decompression

    Dec. 24 – Rest and Christmas Eve stuff

    Dec. 25 – Christmas (with a special video on YouTube that is interesting but will also make you laugh)

    Dec. 26 to Dec. 30 – A combination of relaxing and binge creating for 2024 and one more Christmas gathering but I don’t know the date. Probably the 26th or 27th.

    Dec. 31 – New Years Eve. I’m too old to do the stay-up-til-midnight-then-kiss-the-girl thing. I foresee a later night but in bed before we travel through time into a new year.

    Jan. 1 – Last day of rest so the aim is to do as much nothing as possible

    Jan. 2 – Back to real life

    And those are my Christmas Holiday 2023 Creative Plans.

    That last date scares me at the time of this writing though, because, right now, worn out, I don’t want to deal with real life. Need the break. I do know, however, the break will be a full recharge if it’s anything like my same-length break in the summer, which is a good thing.

    There you go. General holiday plans, subject to change as per the rules of Christmas Holidays when things can turn on a dime.

    I hope you’re looking forward to Christmas as much as I am. I have some really cool, special-to-the-individual gifts to hand out and I can’t wait to see their reaction!

    Peace.


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  • Patreon 2.0 Thus Far

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    Patreon 2.0 Thus Far

    Patreon 2.0 thus far

    It’s been a little over a month since Patreon 2.0 launched.

    Since then, here’s a list of patron-exclusive content that’s aired so far:

    PE: Copper Horse (photo)

    PE: I Wonder What They’re Gonna Think? (Blog post))

    PE: Welcome to Patron-exclusive Videos! (video)

    PE: Quick Note – About Serial Books

    PE: Welcome to CAUGHT IN BLACK HEADLIGHTS

    ZOMTROPOLIS – 11

    PE: Quick Note – A.P. Fuchs LinkTree

    PE: Ye Olde Sawblade (photo)

    PE: Behind the Scenes – Caught in Black Headlights

    ZOMTROPOLIS – 12

    Where Did the Sunshine Go? (from CAUGHT IN BLACK HEADLIGHTS)

    ZOMTROPOLIS – 13

    PE: Creating: Time Allocation (essay)

    PE: Quick Note – ROHAM: STORY TIME with A.P. Fuchs Season Length

    PE: Gnome nom nom (photo)

    PE: Quick Note – Out of Order?

    ZOMTROPOLIS – 14

    PE: The Day I Almost Died (video)

    That Cold Chatter (from CAUGHT IN BLACK HEADLIGHTS)

    PE: Behind the Scenes – FREDRIKUS Pages

    ZOMTROPOLIS – 15

    PE: Quick Note – You Can Look Ahead

    PE: A Drop of Ink on Silver Sphere (photo)

    Lots more set for the New Year with much fun and excitement to come. I hope you join me on this journey.

    Realm of Heroes and Monsters Patreon Page Trailer

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  • Station Ident – 121423

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    Station Ident – 121423

    station-ident-121423

    This is your station identification for 121423.

    My name is . . .

    . . . A.P. Fuchs. I’m a writer, cartoonist, and freelancer in the worlds of books and comics. This is Canister X, my official web presence and the Realm of Heroes and Monsters, where we try and entertain and inform you on a regular basis.

    I’ve been at this publishing game for 20+ years and I’m not near done yet. Presently, we’re big on video content—both longer videos and shorts and reels—and podcasts so be sure you’re hooked up at the appropriate links below (podcast on YouTube).

    My various social media presences are:

    Ello

    MeWe

    Twitter

    Facebook

    Instagram

    Pinterest

    Tumblr

    LinkedIn

    WT.Social

    YouTube

    Ko-fi

    TikTok

    LinkTree

    My Patreon page is here. It’s in Phase 2 and is a special place where I post post serial novels, serial comics, essays and articles on the creative arts business, behind-the-scenes secrets, patron-exclusive videos and art, and so much more. Join me and my other patrons and be a part of something entertaining and interesting with consistent content. I even have a cool trailer for it.

    I also have a webcomic titled Fredrikus. Go here have a chuckle.

    On Saturdays, I send out my newsletter, The Canister X Transmission. It’s a weekly newsletter where we all come together after a busy week, unwind, regroup, and kick off the weekend. Presently, we are in The Very Long Year Six. Join us.

    Finally, my Merch Shop is out in the world and is open for business. Playing cards, hats, shirts, zippos, flasks, and more!

    End station identification.


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  • Self-publishing: Playing the Long Game

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    Self-publishing: Playing the Long Game

    self-publishing the long game

    2023 has been about me making broadstroke creation moves, playing the long game the key component behind each stroke.

    There is a reason I’ve been regularly posting videos to this site despite it being about a writer/artist amlnd books and comics.

    There’s a reason behind setting myself up and creating content for various platforms.

    There is a reason behind why I constructed Patreon 2.0 as I did.

    The list goes on.

    What you’ve been seeing on this site over the past year are groundwork foundation-laying moves that will aid 2024. You can’t build a house on sand. You need concrete.

    This is PROJECT REBUILD 2.0 and it’s working.

    Every action I take, and as I’ve mention in my newsletter, are meant to help Future Me along with Future Works which, in turn, help Future You, dear reader.

    A lot of PROJECT REBUILD 1.0 was more theory-based and planning-based versus actual execution of the theory. PROJECT REBUILD 2.0 has been the execution of 1.0.

    As I state in the below video, there is method to the madness.

    vLog – Method to the Madness

    2024 is looking to be a fairly big year self-publishing-wise. Lots of titles, so at present I’m mentally mapping out the year in terms of how to release everything and when.

    But that’s 2024 and we’re not there yet.

    2023 will continue, and finish, as it has been thus far.

    A new content schedule will be created for 2024, but as of now, this schedule will remain.

    Thanks for tuning in this year.

    More to come.

    Peace.

    – APF


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  • Goodbye TinyLetter; Hello MailerLite

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    Goodbye TinyLetter; Hello MailerLite

    canister x transmission collections

    Well, MailChimp pulled the plug on TinyLetter, the newsletter engine I’ve using to send THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION for about eight years. It was a great platform because it had a simple and direct, user-friendly interface and was perfect for a text-based newsletter like mine. But, alas, all good things must come to an end, I suppose, so thanks to fellow author Bobby Nash, he turned me on to MailerLite and from there I’ll be able to continue to send out new issues of the newsletter week after week. This change, of course, will involve some link adjusting and some web design stuff since all my sites have the TinyLetter subscribe box.

    Either way, we now have a new provider and there should be no interupption in service.

    You’ll also receive a free thriller novelette upon subscribing. Goes out Saturdays.

    Goodbye, Tinyletter. Thank you for your service.

    If you’d like to be a part of THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION while I finish getting things all set up, please email me and I’ll add you to the subscriber list. You can also use the form above. The email-me option is there in case of glitches.

    Thanks.

    – APF


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