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When an online chat is announced (website, Twitter, blogpost, etc.), there will be a URL for you to click on. This will take you to the website that is hosting the chat.

You will type in whatever you want as a username. Sometimes you will be given a password, or sometimes it doesn’t matter what password you type in.

Once you log in, you will see the main chat window and probably a list of the other people who have logged in. You will also have a small area where you can type messages and then click a button so that your message shows up in the main chat window. It’s very similar to an instant messenger (IM) conversation, except there are lots of people and you see can see all of their messages show up in continuously scrolling lines of text.

Depending who is moderating the chat, there will be different instructions. The Knight Agency instructions, which are shown at the beginning of their chats, tell you to type a question mark if you want to ask the author something. Then you are put on a list and they will prompt you when it is time for you to type in your question.

Chats can happen very quickly, with multiple conversations going on. If you are asking a question, type it out before you are called on. Also do a test “paste” into the typing window of the chat program – usually it works, sometimes it doesn’t. If it doesn’t be prepared to type as quickly and as accurately as you can.

If you are going to attend an online chat, be sure to double-check what time it starts and what timezone is listed. Unless there is a cap on the number of people who can log on, you can usually join an online chat even after it has started. If you can’t make time to join the chat as it happens, check out the website of whoever is hosting the chat as they will likely post a transcription of it the next day.

Online chats are great way to spend some time with your favorite author. Sometimes their agent is also in the chat. Chat questions I’ve seen range from specifics about existing books, questions about new books, writing craft, working with an agent, and the publishing world in general. It is a great opportunity to hear what’s going on and how it is done from the people who truly know.

Emerson Cod: Chat!
- Pushing Daisies, “Dummy”, 1.2