Blog 10

Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built + Natural Environments
is an online journal publishing site created in 1997 that combines the art of writing with natural and artificial environments to create something that brings an awareness to environment, whether the integration is among the built or natural.  

The site reads, “It is not definitely about urban form, nor solely about natural landscapes. It is not precisely about human culture, nor necessarily about ecology. It is, rather, a celebration of the symbiosis between the built and natural environments where it exists, and an examination and discourse where it does not.” Terrain.org celebrates Mother Nature in a unique way.

Terrain.org takes pride in its work and contributors by only accepting the highest quality work from a diverse group to ensure they have a diverse audience.

About their pieces, the sites reads, “The works may be idealistic, technical, historical, philosophical, and more. Above all, they focus on the environments around us — the built and natural environments — that both affect and are affected by the human species.”

The site further boasts, “Terrain.org strives to be both a resource and a pleasure, a compass and a shelter. Technical and journalistic works contained in the Nonfiction, Unsprawl, Reviews, Interview, and perhaps even Editorials sections are aimed at professionals and other interested individuals and groups. These contributions can help communities develop and redevelop in a more sustainable manner. Literary and artistic works contained in the Poetry, Nonfiction, Fiction, Editorials, ARTerrain, and To Know a Place sections allow the reader to relax and enjoy the pieces for what they are. All work contained within Terrain.org is, we hope, accessible to all interested audiences. While a case study may help a community planner in his or her job, it may also inform a banker, inspire a student, and educate a mechanic. While a poem may give joy to a teacher, it may also provide a brief sojourn for a scientist, give cause to reflect for a developer, and give hope to a housewife (or househusband). We are also seeking videos, and hope to build out that new genre over the upcoming issues.”

The artistic works accepted and displayed by Terrain.org challenges its audience as well as writers to examine the physicality of our world and its influences on one another: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The voice and tone follows that of its creator so it ranges from humor, entertainment, social awareness and etcetera. Most pieces vary in length depending upon subject matter.

Terrain.org has something for everyone in every discipline of writing. The audience is wide, from technical and professional to generalist, and average more than 500,000 visits per year.

Whatever your niche may be, they have a place for you. Some categories include but are not limited to:

Columns

Poetry

Nonfiction

Fiction

Interviews

Reviews + Reads

Within all of these listed categories, Terrain.org still challenges its writers to master the physical world surrounding us as they display their crafts to inspire, illuminate, interest and inform.

For the Nonfiction category, there is a variance in voice and tone from the writers. Some write with a wholehearted love for the environment, such as Bromancing The Gar by Mark Spitzer: http://terrain.org/2013/nonfiction/bromancing-the-gar/ while others speak of personal remembrances and stories, such as I Have Lived My Whole Life on this Boat (Kerala Backwaters) by Marco Wilkinson http://terrain.org/2013/nonfiction/i-have-lived-my-whole-life-on-this-boat-kerala-backwaters/ and Google-Mapping a Syrian Childhood by Beth Baker: http://terrain.org/2013/nonfiction/google-mapping-a-syrian-childhood/. There are some stories that even try to bring an awareness to environmental issues like, The Future of Fire by Vanessa Gregory: http://terrain.org/2013/nonfiction/the-future-of-fire/. Whatever your area of expertise and passion is, there is a place for it at Terrain.org.

Terrain.org encourages participation and feedback on any issue or subject. It is the winner of several awards and good work highlights.

“Not only was Terrain.org the first online journal to explore the nexus between the built and natural environments from both literary and technical perspectives — we published our first issue in 1998 — we also strive to be the most dynamic online literary journals. The awards and good words we receive tell us we’re moving in the right direction. We hope you agree — so let us know.”