Writing (The Sims 3)

Writing

Writing

See also: Book

For the similar skill, see Creativity (skill).

For the career in The Sims 4, see Writer.

For the Writing Skill in The Sims 4, see Writing (The Sims 4).

Writing is a skill in The Sims 3. Sims can only write by using a computer. The skill is augmented by Artistic and Bookworm traits, and Acclaimed Author lifetime reward (Some other traits are also useful for several types of writing).

Finished books will be mailed to the Sim after completion free of charge with the exception of articles which simply appear in the Sim's inventory. They can be read just like any other book. The books can also now be found in the library, and be bought from the Bookshop in town.

Income is paid by the publisher once a week, at 12 pm on Sunday, for 6 weeks per book. Small payments are also received for every 20% of the book that is completed. If the author dies, payments will stop for any books they have written. With The Sims 3: Ambitions expansion pack, players can register as a self-employed writer. Being a writer is very hard compared to other skill careers, and as many, and possibly all, of the Sim's wish slots will be taken up by wishes related to the career.

Statistics

• Books Read
• Current Book Completed
• Completed Books
• Scrapped Writings
• Pages Written
• Flops
• Hits
• Best Sellers
• Most Experienced Genre
• Most Profitable Book
• Money Earned Writing
• Current Weekly Royalties

Challenges

Speed Writer

Speed Writers are so prolific that they've earned §30,000 in royalties. Speed Writers write more quickly than normal writers.

Prolific Writer

Prolific Writers have written at least 20 books in their career. They are so well known that they tend to write far more best-sellers than their counterparts.

Specialist Writer

Writers must pen at least 5 novels in a specific genre to be known as a specialist for the genre. Such specialists write far more hits and best-sellers in their particular genre than most.

Genres

Genre	Requirement	Average Length	Expected Royalties	Base Royalty	Royalty Per page	Bonus Trait
Fiction	Writing Lv. 0	90		§25 - §35	0.333
Non-Fiction	Writing Lv. 0	90		§25 - §35	0.333
Science Fiction	Writing Lv. 1 or Writing Lv. 0 with Computer Whiz	150		§60 - §70	0.433	Computer Whiz, Genius
Comic	Writing Lv. 1 and Painting Lv. 1 or Writing Lv. 1 and Street Art Lv. 1	61		§48 - §120	1.377
Trashy	Writing Lv. 2	190		§73 - §85	0.416	Flirty
Drama	Writing Lv. 3	305		§160 - §183	0.562	Commitment Issues, Diva
Children's	Writing Lv. 3 and Painting Lv. 4	105		§75 - §105	0.857	Artistic, Childish, Family-Oriented
Sports	Writing Lv. 3 or Sports Agent Lv. 3	125		§150 - §400	2.200	Athletic
Horror	Writing Lv. 4 or Writing Lv. 2 with Supernatural Fan	400		§200 - §300	0.625	Supernatural Fan
Humor	Writing Lv. 5 or Writing Lv. 2 with Good Sense of Humor	345		§185 - §255	0.638	Good Sense of Humor, Loser, Inappropriate, Mean Spirited
Historical	Writing Lv. 6 and elders only	505		§290 - §360	0.644	Perfectionist, No Sense of Humor
Poetry	Writing Lv. 7 or Writing Lv. 0 with Brooding or Writing Lv. 2 with Avant Garde	400		§300 - §350	0.813	Brooding
Mystery	Writing Lv. 8	510		§325 - §340	0.652	Genius
Romance	Writing Lv. 10 or Writing Lv. 5 with Hopeless Romantic	675		§600 - §890	1.104	Hopeless Romantic
Biography	Writing skill opportunity	400		§150 - §175	0.406
Auto-Biography	3 Biographies	400		§150 - §175	0.406	Ambitious, Charismatic, Unlucky, Daredevil, Insane, Kleptomaniac, Diva
Fantasy	3 Sci-Fi novels	440		§300 - §360	0.750	Neurotic
Satire	3 Humor novels or Writing Lv. 4 with Avant Garde	350		§350 - §410	1.086	Grumpy, Hot-Headed, Over-Emotional, Rebellious
Vaudeville	2 Sci-Fi, 2 Drama, 2 Humor, 2 Mystery, 2 Romance novels, and Writing Lv. 10	1250		§1450 - §1770	1.288	Bookworm
Masterpiece	25 novels	2000		§2750 - §3100	1.463
Life Story	Top level career opportunity	400		§300 - §500	1.000
Political Memoir (Political Life Story)	Political career opportunity	400		§300 - §500	1.000
Article (Story/Review)	Journalism Lv. 3	79		§35 - §52	0.554

Useful Writer traits

Along with the traits that provide a bonus to individual writing genres, the following are traits that might generally be useful:

• Bookworm Sims get a bonus to writing quality and write novels faster.
• Artistic Sims get a further bonus to writing with this trait.
• Computer Whiz Sims enjoy playing on the computer more and can fix broken computers faster.
• Sims that Hates the Outdoors will never go Stir-Crazy. This is useful for writer Sims, who rarely need to leave the house.
• Adventurous Sims will take longer to become Stir-Crazy, at approximately 9 days.
• Hopeless Romantic Sims are more prominent in the romance genre, and can start writing romance novels much earlier. As romance novels are some of the most profitable works, this can speed up the writer’s earnings.
• Insane Sims can talk to themselves, which allows them to fulfill their need for social interaction, especially if they live alone.
• Green Thumb Sims can talk to potted/planted plants to quickly refill their social need (much more effective than Insane's talk to self as it lasts roughly twice as long and seems to fill the need more quickly. One talk to plant will refill almost the whole social from empty, while insane requires 5-6 talk to self to do the same).
• Loner Sims need less social interaction than others. They also get a mood boost when they're alone.
• Sims with No Sense of Humor have an almost halved need for fun.
• Perfectionist Sims take longer to do many things but do them better than normal. This includes writing novels.
• Slob Sims don't mind a dirty house or body, allowing them more time to write.
• Couch Potato Sims sitting in a particularly comfy chair while writing get up to a +25 mood bonus with this trait (this is redundant if the Sim uses the Holo-Computer). Sims may watch TV for a quick Fun boost, if they get strained.
• Neurotic Sims can use the "Freak Out" action to prevent/eliminate stress from writing for long stretches of time.
• Brooding Sims can start writing poetry right away, although at the cost of a 10% learning gain rate of the writing skill.
• Avant Garde Sims can write Poetry and Satire in lower skill requirements.

Additionally, for each bonus trait that a Sim possesses upon completion of a novel, the book royalty is increased by 25%.

Opportunities

A History of One

Write a Biography of (Sim).

(Sim) wants to be immortalized in print, and you're just the writer to do it! If you find the time to write a biography of (Sim), it'll surely improve your relationship and earn you some money.

Your Autobiography

Write an Autobiography.

(Sim) has read quite a few of your books and thinks you're quite the writer. With such an interesting life, (Sim) thinks you should put it on paper. Write an Autobiography and you'll improve your relationship with (Sim) and earn some money.

Correcting Past Mistakes

(Sim) has read some of your very first books and determined they weren't quite up to snuff. Prove that you've improved as a writer by writing a novel that generates §100 in weekly royalty checks, and you'll improve your relationship with (Sim). Your books will also improve from then on!

Book Donation

Donate three books at City Hall.

City Hall is collecting books for the library - such a great cause! Those who donate will be viewed as Charitable, so bring three books that you've written and drop them off at City Hall!

Add a Little Drama

Write a Drama.

(Sim) has a soft spot for a well-written drama that pulls at the heartstrings and excites readers with its suspense. Write a Drama Novel for (Sim) to earn some money and improve your relationship.

To Boldly Go

Write a Sci Fi novel.

Lasers, adventuring through space, and discovering new planets where evil monsters may lurk are exactly what (Sim) wants you to occupy your time with. Write a Science Fiction novel for (Sim) and you'll earn some money and your relationship will improve.

Hopefully You Like Orks

Write a Fantasy novel.

(Sim) has a hankering for magic, wizards, and green-skinned Orks that like fighting just a little too much. You should take a stab at writing a Fantasy novel for (Sim). It'll improve your relationship and earn you a little cash!

A Masterpiece

Write a Masterpiece.

(Sim) has read everything you've ever written. As one of your biggest fans, (Sim) is eagerly anticipating your masterpiece. Write a Masterpiece and your relationship with (Sim) will improve. You'll also earn some money!

A Few Pages of Satire

Write a Satire.

(Sim) absolutely loves satire and is very interested in seeing you take a pass at the genre. Write a Satire novel for (Sim) and it'll improve your relationship, plus earn you some money.

The Glory of Vaudeville

Write a Vaudeville novel.

The great storytelling and humor of Vaudeville is sought by your acquaintance (Sim). Write a vaudeville story for (Sim) and your relationship will improve, plus you'll earn a cash bonus!

Descriptions of each skill level

Level 1

Can words move another Sim to cry? To laugh? To fall in love? [Sim] has begun the literary path, one that is not always the less traveled, but perhaps one in need of excellence. Will the next bestseller be penned by [Sim]?

Level 3

Congratulations! [Sim] has just improved [his/her] Writing Skill to level 3!
[Sim] now understands how to write drama novels. Don't hold back the sappy dialogue and deep plot-line -- readers will eat it up!

Level 5

Congratulations! [Sim] has just improved [his/her] Writing Skill to level 5!
[Sim]'s fingers may be a tad sore, but the calluses will heal and key replacements for keyboards are cheap. Keep typing away, and that masterpiece will be within [Sim]'s grasp. [Sim] now possesses the touch to pen Humor Novels. The neighborhood can always use a little more funny.

Level 10

People have no doubt wept from the telling dramas written by [Sim]. Readers have no doubt laughed until their stomachs hurt, and it can most definitely be said that the most vivid tales were created by none other than [Sim]. Enjoy the royalties - they are well deserved.

Wishes

Icon	Name	Lifetime Happiness	Description	Trigger	EP
	Learn Writing Skill	500	Your Sim seeks to learn something new to enrich and enlighten. Have your Sim refine a talent to perhaps pick up a new skill!		&BG
	Take a Class in the Writing Skill	500	Your Sim wants to take a Wrting Skill class to learn the skill. Visit the Business Office to enroll in the class.		&BG
	Improve Writing Skill	500	Learning is an exciting pursuit many Sims enjoy. Your Sim wants to improve a skill so they can do more things with the knowledge! Practice the skill until your Sim gains a level.		&BG
	Master Writing Skill	5,000	Mastering a Skill takes great patience and dedication, but your Sim aspires to be the best. Have your Sim practice the skill and complete Opportunities, and great things will happen.		&BG
	Start Writing a Book	350	Your Sim has a few ideas floating around and wants to start writing a book. Set aside some time to write and use the computer to transfer the idea to print!		&BG
	Write 40 Novels	5,000	Your Sim wants to be known and respected as a prolific writer. Your Sim wants to write novels... better get busy behind the keyboard!		&BG
	Write 5 Best Sellers	2,000	Best selling books are the best way to earn huge royalty checks. Highly skilled writers that know the ins and outs of a genre tend to write the most best sellers.		&BG
	Write a Book worth at least [§] a Week in Royalties	Varies	There's nothing like regular income. Your Sim wants to have money coming in from book royalties.		&BG
	Write a Novel	500	Your Sim's creativity needs an outlet! Writing a novel on the computer should help.		&BG
	Write a Science Fiction Novel	500	Aliens alone aren't enough to make a good science fiction novel. The lasers must singe the reader as a new galaxy is brought to life. Your Sim wants to write a science fiction novel.		&BG
	Finish Current Book	600	Your Sim hates leaving a book unfinished and wants to type through to the last page of the current writing project. Your Sim needs to figure out how it will end!		&BG

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