Article in TXT Format Rejected For Not Being in TXT

[CRAnderson]

After successfully writing many hundreds of articles for online sites such as Suite101, Bright Hub, and Demand Studios (and in print journals since 1985), I submitted my first article to Constant Content. The article was "Setting Up and Using the Google Adwords System." Of course I submitted it in the proper format; I certainly know how to do this. I submitted it in txt format with no Word formatting. For safety, I saved it from Word to a txt document. Then I opened it in Notepad and saved it under another name before submitting. It came back for this reason: "Please submit in doc, rtf, or txt file type."

Needless to say (so why am I saying it?), I'm feeling a bit cast down. I hesitate to resubmit in doc or rtf because if the most widely readable txt format isn't acceptable, then why should these others be? I don't want to get another rejection on it, particularly since in three years online the only two rejections I ever received were on Demand Studios and DS writers on this forum certainly can understand that problem. If there were a content question I could understand that, but this leaves me completely bamboozled and wondering if Constant Content is really worth the trouble.

Anyone got an idea what I did wrong or any rational reason for this rejection?

[Lysis]

There was another writer here who didn't have word wrap on using Notepad and used hard carriage returns instead. Any chance you may have left word wrap off?

[Celeste Stewart]

A .txt file shouldn't have been a problem. Maybe a glitch along the way zapped the upload? I have no problem with Word documents so long as I use the .doc rather than .docx format. I'd try submitting again. Once submitted, go back into My Account and click on the edit link for the article then double check to be sure the document uploaded.

[CRAnderson]

Thanks for the idea. I was sure Word Wrap was on because that is my default. I just rechecked the article and it was. I wouldn't use hard returns after each line anyway. So I'm still looking for an explanation. I did email the staff, but since they delete the article after a rejection, there's probably nothing they can do. I really would like to move more of my writing to CC given the seemingly constant upheavals at DS, but I have to be able to submit articles.

[Debbi]

I always use .rtf format in Word 2007 and so far no formatting issues. I don't like to mess around with Notepad, too many chances for problems when moving documents from one program to another.

Debbi

[Ed]

There was no file attached to the submission. It was not submitted in any file format.

Thanks,
Ed

[Celeste Stewart]

I'd submit again using .doc or .rtf. Who knows what happened before but I wouldn't let it stop you from moving forward and getting some articles uploaded here.

[CRAnderson]

Ed says it wasn't uploaded, yet before I finalized it I did click on Edit and the article was there. Celeste, I guess when you eliminate the impossible, what ever is left must be the truth. Some glitch happened between my seeing the article on the site and a final submission. Until I have an idea what caused it, there's no point in trying one of the other formats I guess.

Which raises another question: Does Constant Content own the title when it is a requested one? In other words, since I wasn't successful in this, I am assuming I can use the article itself elsewhere such as on Bright Hub or Associated Content as long as the title is different. I don't want to try this one again and have it fail. I want to earn some money on this piece of work. Maybe I will try with a new article later.

Thanks for all the suggestions. It does look as if CC has some helpful people on the forums.

[CRAnderson]

Never mind about my question regarding ownership. I reread the legal stuff on CC and realize that because the public request title was more general than the specific title I created and the content itself is no longer on CC (although I did see it there for review before it disappeared), ownership is clear. I am saving a copy of Ed's message saying CC does not have the article in case any question arises. Thanks for the suggestions you guys made though.

I will put it on Associated Content because I can't afford to spend time on spec if this kind of glitch can trash my work. BTW, there is an interesting article on AC comparing AC to CC as to which is of most benefit to professional writers.

[Celeste Stewart]

An upload error won't trash your work. For whatever reason the article didn't attach. It should still be on your hard drive. Seriously, I'd try it again because CC really can be quite rewarding, despite the risk of writing on spec. I write for both AC and CC (since 2006 on both sites) and my experience is that CC is the clear winner. You won't get a guaranteed few bucks upfront or page views here, but believe me, you can make a rewarding figure for your efforts on CC.

[CRAnderson]

Thanks for the encouraging words, Celeste. The problem is I don't think it was an upload error, because I went back to the article online to check one thing. As far as I knew, it was still waiting for review. I didn't revisit the site until I got the rejection for not being in doc, rtf, or txt. That's what threw me. Then when Ed said there was no file attached, I was really lost. Not knowing what caused that at the CC end made me very reluctant to try again.

As for trashing the article, I meant on CC. I always create on my PC and save a copy. So the work wasn't lost. It is now sitting on AC. I did try my best to notify CC before publishing on AC so that if it suddenly resurfaced at CC I wouldn't be guilty of double publishing. Given what you say I may try another one to see what happens when I can get time from my regular paying work at Demand Studios and Bright Hub. Of all the sites I have written for, Demand Studios is the most regular income, with weekly paychecks at $15/article, even with the frustrations that go on when they hire new Copy (Content) Editors. I have a large body of work both in print and online and for weekly steady income, DS beats everyone hands down. Most of my print and online sales have not been on spec, and it is not my favorite way of working. I realize I might sell one article on CC for $50, but with all the competition, what about the next five? Six articles on DS would net me $90 and the money weekly. However, I do like the responsiveness on the CC forum. Except for Bright Hub, no one else is like that. I did send several emails directly to the "Contact" link at CC though and never heard back.

[jak]

I'm not sure what you meant by clicking on Edit to make sure the article was there. I have sometimes forgotten to attach my article to a submission page. It's an easy mistake to make, but the site developers have now eliminated it by pointing out the error before the submission is accepted. So something must have gone wrong in your case.

If you have posted your article at AC, you can submit it here for usage rights only (put a 0 in the price box for the other two options) provided you use the same author name at AC, making it obvious it's yours.

[CRAnderson]

I meant this:
"Celeste Stewart on Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:59 am
A .txt file shouldn't have been a problem. Maybe a glitch along the way zapped the upload? I have no problem with Word documents so long as I use the .doc rather than .docx format. I'd try submitting again. Once submitted, go back into My Account and click on the edit link for the article then double check to be sure the document uploaded."

That is what I did. That is how I know the article was there. I wish I could get TPTB to acknowledge that something untoward happened, but they don't seem interested in replying.

As for AC, I didn't think I could do that if I gave AC "Exclusive Rights," which I usually do to make the most money. I write under a Pen Name at AC. However, thanks for the suggestion. I will double-check with AC as to what I can do when they have an Exclusive. If I can post to CC for usage only in this case, it would be a way to test the system with no additional expense to me except the short time to post. Thanks again, you're one great moderator!

[Ed]

It seems obvious that there was a technical error. You saw your article uploaded. When I reviewed your article, there was no article uploaded - the submission form was filled out but there was no file attached. The most logical explanation is a technical glitch.

In addition, while you received no response from Support due to occurrence of the long weekend, your questions were answered, or you answered your questions yourself in the forums. You have been offered explanations about how the problem you encountered may have occurred and your options for how to move forward. You may either try again at CC or submit your content to a content sales site that you feel suits your needs.

Thank you,
Ed

[CRAnderson]

Thank you for your very helpful advice, Ed. I will certainly take it to heart. I thought the existence of a technical glitch might be worth calling to the attention of someone higher up. I apologize for overloading the forum and promise not to do it again.

Please feel free to remove this thread.