I am trying to extrude some text in a model.

In a single previous sketch in this model I have made multiple lines of text with varying text sizes and fonts and had no problem.

In an attempt to make multiple configurations, I am starting a new sketch with one line of text and am getting varying problems:

1) Error: Zero thickness geometry - However, I see no instance of this occuring even thought it shows a preview of the text being extruded before I click ok.

or

2) Unable to select the desired text to extrude in "select contour" - as if it does not even recognize that there is text there.

I have tried multiple fonts, sizing, sketch surfaces, and combinations of letters, even those identical to previous text that works.