Ohh, Barbara, I appreciate the visual on this post. ;) I've got to tell you, I've been the author on a couple of those chats and I guess I don't think/type/read fast enough. The comments and questions are coming at you like spider monkeys jacked up on Mt. Dew and then, as you said, some of them aren't even to you, they're to other people coming and going. My head was spinning by the time I finished and I was worried I'd left someone out. and what happens when you need to get up and go pee in the middle of it? Ya don't. I am much better with the post and come back and answer at will.

I'm one of the questionably certifiable who like chats >G<. But, in small doses.

I've found chats a mixed bag. Since I'm a relatively unknown author, most chatters don't know anything about my series (or me) so I find us opting for topics such as "Do you have a cat?" and "What is it's name?"

That's not to say a chat room experience can't be positive once you're a little further into your career, but I usually think twice about taking part in them. Though one-sided, I prefer Internet interviews. Those allow me to "reveal" my personality and my books to a much better degree.

I like the idea of a forum (if that's what it's called). Seems that would give a person time to ask a thoughtful question and give the author a few moments to pose a good answer. With how quickly posted responses show up on a site these days, it's not like a person has to wait for snail mail to get her answer. And what's with greeting and hallooing personal buds on an open chat? Both the author and the public should stay on target as in any meeting and leave the hellos for personal e-mail or chats. Which is why I don't participate in chats anymore after observing one, Barb. I don't find them very productive or fulfilling.

I find them headspinning as well, but once I've done one a couple of times, it gets easier. I do have to focus in order to keep track, but it's usually an energizing experience. Loop chats are more laid-back and provide the opportunity to think about answers instead of giving an off-the-cuff response. But sometimes the off-the-cuff answers spark a really good conversation.

I rather enjoy them, even though I (like Jana) am a relatively unknown author (also, I don't mind talking about my cat). But I do find some things frustrating - like when I'm trying to answer a question with a thoughtful answer, but by the time I post my answer, the conversation has moved onto a different point entirely and my answer seems out of place. Ah well! I've got a relatively new computer and I'm hosting a weeklong chat at eHarlequin starting Dec. 10, so we shall see.... - Clea
www.cleasimon.com

I tried to follow it once and I'm with you, it made my head spin. It's too bad because I really felt it was a great opportunity to connect with the author. I do like to read author's blogs though. Oh, and I like this one too. :0)

The first chat is always puzzling especially if you don’t get in before the chat starts.

A good chat has to have a good moderator. If the moderator doesn’t control the chat, you will have madness.

Here are a few tips.

As a host of many chats, I always recommend getting to the chat room five or ten minutes before the chats starts. This helps with getting booted out of the chatroom. I also tell chatters to be ready to be booted; it always seems to happen when the chat is getting good.

Find out what the protocol is for the chat. This tells you if it’s an open chat where you just talk among yourself or a chat where you ask questions.

If you join a chat late, watch the protocol before you ask a question. If there is a good moderator, they will welcome you to the chat and tell you when you can post a question.

This way everyone gets their question asked and answered.

You don’t have to type fast, the moderator should give you time to finish the answer before the next question should be post. If not you feel rushed.

I have some fun times in a chat room, even had private chats with those in attendance.

The bad ones were because the moderators weren’t doing their jobs and everyone was talking at the same time. This doesn’t work in real life, and it definitely doesn’t work in a chat room.

Don’t give up on the chats, they can be fun.

LaShaunda, you make some great points and I definitely will have to try chatting again. You are right about it not working in real life because I've been to those parties. Except when you are at a party you can talk louder than everyone else and that's harder to do online. :)

Oooh...chats. :) Just like a lot of great books out there, a lot of us have a love-hate relationship with them. The first few chats I attended as the guesting author, I was scared out of my mind. Why? Because not only do you have to be gracious, but you've got to read faster than your average demon, right? I mean, if you neglect a comment directed at you...the potential to offend is huge. So not good. But I love interacting with readers and chats make that possible. It's a definite dichotomy of feeling. :)

I will admit I prefer online interviews, my blog and guest blogging - all opportunities to connect with readers that I can make sure no one gets ignored.

I'm really glad I discovered your blog, Barbara and can't believe I hadn't before. I'll definitely be linking to you from my own (lucymonroeblog.blogspot.com) and be back to visit again. :)

I love chats, the wilder, the better. The Aphrodisia authors do one once a month at Writerspace (ours was last night which I had to miss, darn it!) but with more than one author answering questions, it's hectic and fun. We DO see a lot of the same people coming back, but they're quite often the same readers who go out and talk about our books online, which becomes a form of viral marketing. We get really silly and the questions and even the answers are probably over the top, but then we DO write erotic romance! I look at chats as a time to cut loose and forget I'm a grown up. Our moderators generally find a quiet corner and protect themselves from flying words.

Lucy, welcome and we're glad to have you and any other first timers here, come back often. Kate, it's so nice to see you back posting again. I guess I'm going to have to try one of your chats too and I'll be sure to have a glass of wine handy. Let us know when it will be.

Smaller chats are fun, but it's hard for people not writers. Writers are used to typing at an amazing speed. I have often seen four conversations going at once. It's a trick to pick out your conversation!

I've done several chats, and as others have said, some are wild and others are more subdued. Both can be fun. A glass of wine helps :). It's also a good thing we women are such good multi-taskers.

From a writer's perspective, I think live chats, as exhausting as they can be, are also a great medium for making direct contant with readers. Yes, it gets really confusing, and it's almost as difficult for the author to get a word in edgewise as it is for a reader. But questions do get asked, and many do get answered, and it's fun in a wild, confusing sort of way. I've done a few, and I'm sure I'll do more in the future.

I love live chats, and I agree with almost everything you say, Barbara. Seasoned chatters have their comments pre-typed into a word doc so they can cut and paste, if the chatroom software is up to it.

Just as your hunk in the bath makes your page stand out from the crowd, so does any mention of male genitalia stand out, if you want to be put the rooster in the henhouse. I always have outstanding alien male equipment in my romances, so this is not hard for me. Nor are puns!

However, when talking about the nuts and bolts of a love story, I recommend strict sobriety to be sure you're not sorry for what you said the next day.

It's really great to get to "know" the chatting regulars.

I often sit in the auditorium and 'eavesdrop' on live chats. It's good fun and gives the reader a glimpse into the personality of the writer. I've also participated in a few smaller chats - a bit confusing the first time but fun just the same

I've sat through a couple of chats and agree with you, Barb. It can be overwhelming. The first one I attended, I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing, so I mostly lurked. It was still fun and I will be attending other chats in the future.

Oh my goodness--Barb--I need a cold shower after viewing this man in the bathtub! Thanks for my "fix" every morning--I click back to this blog!!