Unable to complete writer's challenges

[beardeux]

Hi all,  I have a sim who is trying to complete his writing challenges and has completed two of them, Speed Writer and Genre (Mystery) Novelist.  The third one, Prolific Writer, is causing the sim to be reset to elsewhere in the yard every time he starts a new book.  I've tried on all the topics he's not already written about.  He is also accompanied by a bunch of tiny colourful little sparkles lasting about 5 seconds. 

I've tried to buy new computers, move sim out and back in, quit and restart game, used a prior save and started challenges over again, all to no avail.  The first time through I made it to 18 books.  After using prior save, I have only gotten as far as 12.  Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Sarabi]

I was having a similar problem with a Sim trying to write "Horror" or "Poetry" genre books, which were new to me.  I finally chose a familiar genre, and it was successful.

Those genres were added to the menu, but I think they might be part of an EP that I don't have - so when the Sim attempted to perform that action, the game reset her.

Does that sound familiar?

[beardeux]

Ahhh, that sounds like just the problem.  Thanks.  I appreciate your responding.  I just kept trying four genres in particular because I wanted him to have one of each as well as his novelist genre.  I gave up on them and stuck with the novelist genre and I'm getting the count up.  I also had trouble with Romance and Non-fiction, but I just just kept trying intermittently and finally I got those.  I'll just forget about Horror and Poetry for now.  My count is now up to 16 books.

I only just started writing novels a couple weeks ago and didn't realize that genres were introduced with EP's.  Makes sense though.  So I didn't know those two genres were new.  I also don't have a couple of the latest EP's so maybe I'll be able to get the books later.  Thanks again.
Bear

[Sarabi]

Glad I could help.   

For what it's worth, when I play a writer, my general strategy is to start by cranking out 4 each of the shorter genres - fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, trashy.  They aren't as profitable, but you can crank them out a lot faster to reach the magic number of 20.  I stop at 4 to avoid triggering any of those as the specialty.  Then I do 5 in a row of the genre I've chosen as a specialty, and that completes both Prolific and Specialist.  It may take a little longer to get Speed Writer that way, since the books you're writing have smallish royalties - but it works for my playstyle.

Happy Simming!

[beardeux]

Thanks.  I may try that strategy.  I got my genre first and then tried for one of each kind.  I've now written about 8 of his major genre and have yet to get a best seller.  He's had a couple hits.

Love simming

[Janna]

I had the same thing happen and I was confused at first like you on what was going on.  Realized that the two genre's, horror, poetry, were from the SN expansion pack that was to be released.  I now have that pack and am able to write the books.

On writing best sellers, what traits your sim has can be a factor.  I have a sim that I am using for an experiment, she has perfectionist, artistic, bookworm, c. whiz and ambitious.  I am having her write one book of each genre, and then am focusing on the one I want her to specailze in, Drama.  She has written 10 books so far;  five best sellers, two hits and the rest are normal.  Best sellers have been in horror, fiction, drama, romance and humor.  Science Fiction and NonFiction have been hits, rest normal. 

Don't know if that helps any, but thought I would share it just in case it does. 

[beardeux]

thanks for that info.  I don't have those traits for my character but he does have the illustrious author reward.  He's on his 20th book and will then have all the challenges completed and I expect he should start getting the best sellers then.
bear

[Janna]

Bear,

I don't know what your opinion is on using cheats.  When I first started to play Sims 3, I felt it was wrong to cheat.  But I have to some extent changed it due to the type of game it is; different type of goal from other role playing games.

I weight the options of using cheats in each town game, in some cheats are okay, in others it isn't. 
If you  don't mind using a cheat, there is one to change traits.  I'm not saying you should use this cheat;  that is your choice.  Just wanted to let you know it is there if you want to use it.  I wish I had known about it earlier, I would have used it.  Going to have to use it now in a game, gave my teen his last trait for YA and it didn't show up; will have to use the cheat to add it. 

[beardeux]

I know I can change the traits, but don't want to.  He's just doing this leisurely to get his challenges.  He's close to completing the last challenge so I'll just plug along.  Thanks though.
Bear