Confused!

[ahri22]

The other day I submitted my first article to constant content. I initially received a rejection because I had a couple of run-on sentences, which I fixed. I submitted the same article again, and received the response:

==== Editorial Information for Your Article: ====

We accept only completely original content.

==== End Editorial Information for Your Article ====

Here's the thing... I wrote the article from personal knowledge. Every word in it was taken straight from my brain, so there's no way there was ANY plagiarisation in it! However, I did do a Google search on the first sentence, and discovered another article that started exactly the same way (no, I didn't copy it - this was very much a case of coincidence). So, my question is, could my article have been rejected due to this?

[HayleyWriter]

Yes, the article could have been rejected because of this. CC has no way of knowing that you didn't copy the sentence. Try finding a new way of introducing the topic. Finding a new and different angle to a common story or type of article is the key to originality. Perhaps, you can turn the entire article around. I've often found that writing the reverse to what is expected is a great way to ensure originiality on a topic that has lots of articles on it. For example, instead of writing an article on "The Best Diet Tips to Lose Weight", I could write an article on "How to Put on Weight Without Thinking". I might use the same tips, but reverse them. Instead of having a sub-heading of Drink Lots of Water for the first article, I would have a sub-heading of Drink Soft Drinks and then explain underneath that drinking water is a better option if you want to lose weight. Coming up with a fresh way of dealing with the topic is the best way to maintain your originality.

Focus on your introduction. Does it really attract the attention of the reader? Does your introductory sentence sound boring? What would entice you to read on if you were reading the article? If you have inadvertantly used the same sentence as another writer, you may not have been very creative in the way you have dealt with the topic. Perhaps, you can use a writing ploy like introducing a character who has the same problem as the article addresses. Write in third person, of course, Something like:
"Jenny sighed as she climbed off the scales again. For the third time this week, she had put on weight. How could that happen when she was doing everything she could to lose weight?"

Then, you ask the reader if something similiar has happened to them and write the article from there. You have many different writing ploys to choose from, this is only an example.

Original writing not only gives information about the topic but also engages the reader. Focus on writing creatively to engage the reader from the first sentence. Craft your article carefully, not only in what you say, but how you say it. Consider the structure of the article too.

I hope this helps,

Hayley

[ahri22]

Hi Hayley,

Yes, you are right. Looking at the article now, the beginning wasn't particularly "original" and there would be far more enticing ways to broach the topic! I'll have a go at that and resubmit

[HayleyWriter]

Good luck!