by Megan Hart

Created on: November 18, 2009

Writers of fiction make stuff up. We spend a lot of time inside our heads, hearing voices and creating worlds. Most of us spend a lot of time on the computer, too. Even if writing's not a full-time job, it takes a lot of time - because most writers, even when they're not writing, are thinking about writing. Or talking about it. Or maybe they're reading a book, in which case, they're thinking about how theirs is better or worse.

Because writing can be so consuming, it's necessary to take time off to refill the creative well. At the same time, since just about everything in a writer's life will lead back to the book in some way or another, combining a fun leisure activity with something that will stimulate the imagination is the perfect hobby for a writer.

The game overview of The Sims 3, available now for both Mac and PC from EA Games, says "The freedom of The Sims 3 will inspire you with endless creative possibilities and amuse you with unexpected moments of surprise and mischief!" And with the recent addition of the new expansion pack, Sims World Adventures there are even more opportunities for game play.

Endless creative possibilities? Those words are sweet, sweet candy to a writer. The Sims 3 is a simulated world game in which players build characters both in body and spirit, choosing from an array of pre-programmed personality traits and goals to created millions of combinations. Players then guide their Sims through their lives in a pre-built city where they can live, work, play, fall in love, get married, get divorced and die.

Sounds a lot like writing a book.

While playing the Sims 3 can take away hours from actual writing time, it can also be a valuable tool for a writer struggling with writer's block, problems with a plot point, or simple creative burnout. Here are ways writers can use the Sims in their writing:

Build the house your characters live in - Whether the house in your book is important for the plot or not, it's nice to have a visual representation of where your characters live. If your hero hears shouting from the bedroom and he's in the dining room, is that feasible? What kind of furnishings would your characters choose? It could tell you a lot about them, or give you a better idea of who they are from a perspective you might otherwise not have had. Even the type of house, classic, modern, Victorian, can help you figure out your characters' personalities.

Build Sims that look and act like your characters - Every writer has an idea of what

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