Writing Novels or Calling Sims on the Phone Freezes and Cancels Actions

(Steam Legacy Collection)

Whenever I try to get my sim to write a novel on the computer, the game will freeze for a few seconds, then resume with the sim standing next to the PC, while also cancelling the action I wanted them to do and going off to do their own thing. This will cancel queued actions too. 

This also happens when I try calling a sim through the phone for a chat. The game will freeze for a few seconds, then resume with the action cancelled. For a few frames when the game unfreezes, the call recipient spawns in front of door of the house before despawning.

Either case, it makes it impossible to progress on novels or using the phone to build friendships and social. There might even be other actions that are similarly affected that I haven't experienced yet. Saving and resetting the game doesn't fix it.