Blog 14

Analysis of Terrain.Org


What is it? 

Terrain is a journal publication that has been serving both the built and the natural environments since 1998. The reason I chose it was for their concentration in the natural world, a place where my heart lives. Initially the name captured my attention, and the vivid outdoor images is what hooked me in. According to Terrain, it is a “celebration of the symbiosis” of both worlds. They publish fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, and columns and interviews. 

Audience

According to Terrain, their audience is “technical to professional to generalist,” but to build on that, I also see their audience as anyone who has a close relationship with art and nature. I feel most drawn to the essays pertaining to nature, specifically because I have a very close connection to nature and can feel the words the author has written. 

While scrolling through comments, it seems evenly split between a male and female audience. 

Essay analysis

Subject–These are all experiences that the writers have had at some point in their lives. Of course, they are all related to the natural or built environments, and lean heavier towards the natural world. 

Voice/Tone–These are all personal stories that the authors are telling, some more than others. Most have more of a conversational tone to them. 

Form–Most of the essays are told in sequential order

Artistry–There is more telling and less showing. In the essay, Water Always Seeks Its Own Level, by Mardi Link, there is an excellent example of telling. Throughout the entire essay, there is a big buildup, where every event builds on the last. In the last paragraph, she tells what the moral of the essay is, rather than showing the audience. 

Length–Most of the essays are rather long, at approximately 3,000-5,000 words. Some, however, are on the shorter side, at approximately 1,000 words. 

Submissions

Submissions must be related to the built or natural world, whether literal, creative or implied. The accept general submissions between September 1 to May 30, and contest submissions are accepted year-round. All submissions must be digital; they do not accept anything in print and it will not be read or returned. Unless otherwise noted, you may not submit more than once every six months. 

Cost: Contest submissions are $10 each, and all other regular submissions are free.