Submission Guidelines

Terrain.org is based on and thus welcomes quality submissions from new and experienced authors and artists alike. Our online journal accepts only the finest poetry, essays, fiction, articles, artwork, and other contributions—material that reaches deep into the earth's fiery core, or humanity's incalculable core, and brings forth new insights and wisdom.

• How to Submit
  • Go to Submission Manager Online Tool
• What to Submit
• Upcoming Themes
    

How to Submit

Our audience is wide, from technical and professional to generalist, and each issue averages more than 120,000 visits over its six-month run.

Except in specific situations—such as UnSprawl case studies—written work should be non-academic in nature; i.e., in general magazine form, such as Outside, Audubon, Orion, OnEarth, Planning, or similar.

Submissions must represent or otherwise have a clear relationship to the built and natural environments, either as they are interrelated or as separate subjects. The relationship to the issue's theme may be literal, implied, creative, or barely visible at all. Surprise us.

All contributions are fully archived.

Please note that Terrain.org does not read submissions from:

• December 1 - February 1   

With the exception of accompanying artwork and queries, all work must be submitted online via Terrain.org's new Submission Manager, requiring the creation of a user account:

Access or Log Into Submission Manager

A single document containing all submissions must be submitted in Microsoft Word format as .doc or .rtf, Corel WordPerfect as .wpd, or ASCII Text format as .txt.

Please query review@terrain.org for interviews, the ARTerrain gallery, the UnSprawl case study, narrative slideshows, and article and essay ideas. Completed articles and essays, as well as poetry, fiction, and reviews, must be submitted via our Submission Manager.

Artwork may be submitted as .jpg, .gif, .tif, .bmp, .eps, or similar, common graphics formats, electronically or in hard copy, via email or regular mail. Other formats or files over 4 MB in size should be preceded by a query note to the editors. Graphics files may also be submitted in hard copy, via regular mail, if unavailable in computer format (see below).

If not submitted electronically, then send artwork only via regular mail, to:

Simmons B. Buntin
Editor/Publisher
Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built & Natural Environments
P.O. Box 19161
Tucson, AZ 85731-9161
U.S.A.

Every submission must include brief biographical information about the author or artist, either in the comments area of the online Submission Manager, or included in the single document of the submission itself. The title(s) of the piece, author's or artist's name, address, email, and relevant website address (if applicable) must appear on the first page of each submission, as either a separate title page or cover letter, or in the header or footer of each submitted piece.

Do not submit more than once every six months, unless previously encouraged to do so by the editors.

Terrain.org's editors will make every attempt to respond to all submissions, via email, within 4 weeks during our reading period. Submitters will also receive both online and return email confirmation of the submission via the Submission Manager.

Terrain.org publishes previously published materials (please notify us when submitting), though original, unpublished work is preferred. We also accept simultaneously submitted materials (immediate notification of acceptance elsewhere is required).

Individual authors and artists maintain copyright to their own work appearing in Terrain.org. Reproduction by others in whole or in part without permission of the authors or artists is prohibited. The editors request that Terrain.org be notified, and listed as original publisher where applicable, if materials will be republished.

At this time, Terrain.org does not pay for contributions.

What to Submit

Submissions are considered for the following genres, and mixed-genre and multimedia submissions—including photo essays, narrative slideshows, poem essays, Flash movies, video, and the like—will gladly be considered, as well. If unsure, query us at review@terrain.org.

Poetry
Poetry need not follow any particular form. Terrain.org's Poetry section may include multiple works from single authors as well as single works from single authors. Submit from two to six poems of any length.

Essays
Creative nonfiction, photo-, personal, and other essays need not follow any particular essay style. No maximum word length.

Fiction
Short stories, excerpts from novels, flash fiction, radio plays, drama, and other forms of fiction are encouraged. No maximum word length.

Articles
Articles may be technical or journalistic in nature. Strive for at least 1,500 words, with no maximum. Accompanying resource links, graphics, and sidebars are encouraged.

Reviews
Reviews of published or forthcoming books, CDs, magazines, community planning resource kits, websites, and other theme-relevant items are encouraged. No maximum word length.

ARTerrain Gallery 
The ARTerrain Gallery may include photographs, drawings, paintings, site graphics, and any other visual (and audio) media. Only one artist is highlighted in each ARTerrain Gallery. Between 6 and 12 electronic or hard copy submissions should include supporting narrative and an in-depth biographical sketch of the artist. We encourage you to query first, as we generally select an artist for the ARTerrain Gallery early in the review period, and often many issues ahead of publication.

UnSprawl Case Study
The UnSprawl case study is an in-depth narrative and design-oriented review of a development that is environmentally, economically, and culturally more viable than conventional suburban "sprawl" development. May highlight a new development, redevelopment, or historically livable project, site, or community. Query the editors before submitting.

Terrain.org is highly competitive, but values every submission and appreciates the opportunity to review your work.

For more information, please contact us.