I'm a 24 year old freelance writer and book blogger. So I say, but I've only just started book blogging and I haven't had anything new published in about four years. Most of my writing tends to just sit there collecting metaphoric dust on my computer. I do hope to remedy that one of these days...
What is Toritate?Toritate means "collection" in Japanese. For a while now, I've been thinking that I should document my collection, like so many other bloggers out there. But I can't say that I'm all that tech savvy (that would be a blatant lie) in fact it took me a lot longer than I'd care to admit to figure out how to set up a blog. So I've been putting it off, content with just opening my cupboards and staring at things like some sort of crazy recluse - which I'm not! I like getting out there in the world, running, hiking, meeting new people and sharing stories around a BBQ fire in the rain - yeah that happened last year when I was in Japan... fun stuff :)
Digressions aside, I've also been meaning to start up a sales thing on store envy, but that too, I always keep putting off because - and I'm ashamed to say so but one ought to be honest in such situations I'm told - I can't figure out how to work the automatic shipping thing for check out. Yes really stupid, right? But I don't want to over charge people for shipping, and I don't want to lose out either, so I gave up on it at the time and meant to get back to it after reading some tutorials, but then it's convention time again and I thought, screw it, who needs an online store. Which I always regret after the convention is over and I still have stuff to sell.
So, what's my solution? A blog that (kind of) solves both of my issues. One where I can talk about my collection and document new purchases as they come, as well as a place to list sales to help other peoples' collections grow! Genius, right? Well not so much, but I'm trying here, so I'd appreciate it if you'd cut me some slack.
Back to the question at hand: what is Toritate? Toritate is going to be my small corner of the interweb, where my painstakingly hunted down treasures will be on showcase, and others can get help with "feeding their guilty pleasures." Because what else can you call spending $100 of the money you made editing last month, on a single figure, and then having to live off coffee, toast and eggs for the rest of the week as a result?
Why have I decided to sell things? Why not just be happy posting about my own collection? It's a simple reason. I became frustrated. You see before I really knew what I was doing, I was always really frustrated going to conventions like Anime North and comic shops in the GTA and not finding the things that I wanted - the super cute lottery figures and clearfiles, the magazines with all those fantastic official art, and the niche series blind box figures and straps. I know a lot of people who offer these kinds of shopping services in the States, but I can't think of anyone that I've ever come across who was based in Toronto. So after figuring things out, getting some contacts and going to Japan, I thought why not bring some extra stuff back for people who might be just as frustrated as me with the limited choices available.
I have no idea how long I'll do this, or if anyone will even decide to buy from me, but since I sell at least twice a year (Anime North and the Merril SF/Anime Flea Market held at the Toronto Reference Library in September), here is where you'll find me in the interim. If you're anything like me, then twice a year isn't nearly enough to feed your anime addictions :)
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