UPDATE: I’ve added the chat hashtags: #writersmovement #fridayflash #5MinuteFiction, and created a separate section for general unscheduled chats where I’ve included other common writing tags.

There are a wide variety of chat groups active on Twitter, and you can use the social tool to easily meet and get to know others with similar interests, share thoughts or insights on a topic, or simply follow the discussion as a listener. Twitter uses the hash mark/number sign (#) before a word to tag that word as a special keyword. Tweets with the same hashtags are then grouped or categorized together. Twitter chats are created by people using the same hashtag in their discussion topic messages while online at the same time.

If you wanted to follow the #scifichat discussion, for example, just do a search for the term #scifichat, and all tweets that include that hashtag will be displayed. You can participate in the chat by adding that hashtag to the end of your own tweets too. Some chats are ongoing without a specific meeting time; #amwriting is used by writers just wanting to comment on their current efforts. Formal chats do have a set meeting time when most discussion is scheduled to take place, and there are often specific topics or questions covered.

As a writer myself I have a specific interest in chats for about writing, and I thought I’d make a post covering the topic. Here is a list of the current chats for writers:

• #bookmarket – Connecting authors, publishers, bloggers, and publicists for the greater good.
• #fantasytalk – Talk about the Fantasy genre and writing.
• #5MinuteFiction – Weekly five-minute fiction contest. After the prompt is posted, writers have five minutes to write their entry and submit it.
• #flitchat – For readers and writers of fantasy.
• #followreader – For readers, publishers, authors, librarians, book bloggers, and everyone else interested and invested in the bookish community.
• #fridayflash – Writers tweet about their flash fiction (1000 words or less) that is available for reading online.
• #kidlitchat – A weekly chat about all things children’s literature, from board books to YA.
• #litchat – Mission is to connect readers with books and authors; guest host on Fridays.
• #scifichat – Talk about science fiction literature and the genre of science fiction in general; occasional guest author.
• #scribechat – Focusing on the most controversial aspects of writing and publishing in a changing industry.
• #scriptchat – Chat created for the purpose of bringing aspiring and seasoned screenwriters together to learn and grow.
• #storycraft – A weekly twitter chat about the craft of writing fiction – no biz chat!
• #ufchat – Talk about the Urban Fantasy genre and writing. Starts July 24.
• #writechat – Discussion about writing and the writing life.
• #writersmovement – A place where writers and aspiring authors meet for chat, support and promotion. Join the movement on Twitter once a month, first Saturdays at 6pm ET
• #yalitchat – A weekly discussion of Young Adult literature for readers and writers.
• #zinechat – Chat about genre magazines/small press q’s and issues; next chat is July 20.

Schedules for writer chats are in the table below. Most list their times as Eastern, so I converted the others to Eastern for a common standard. They are in order, Sunday to Saturday.

Contacts for more information and people to follow if you plan on participating in a chat group:

• #bookmarket – @BookMarketChat @corb21 @claudiaC
• #fantasytalk – @fantasytalk @AustinMullen
• #5MinuteFiction – @LeahPetersen
• #flitchat – @FLitChat @MireyahWolfe @AshkeSV @JenniferBWhite
• #followreader – @katmeyer @charabbott
• #fridayflash – @jmstro
• #kidlitchat – @BonnieAdamson @gregpincus
• #litchat – @litchat
• #scifichat – @scifichat @DavidRozansky
• #scribechat – @LiaKeyes
• #scriptchat – @jeannevb @yeah_write @zacsanford @KageyNYC
• #storycraft – @Story_Craft @danisidhe @iamJaymes @tamaraNKitties
• #ufchat – @UF_Chat @inkgypsy @snowppl
• #writechat – @WritingSpirit
• #writersmovement – @WritersMovement @authortiffanie @maddwriter
• #yalitchat – @Georgia_McBride @LiaKeyes
• #zinechat – @jaymgates

Slow chat hashtags without a formal, scheduled time for discussion:

• #amwriting #amediting #writegoal #WIP – Writers about current writing activity, their goals, and work in progress.
• #write #writers #writing – General tweets about the writing process or life as a writer.
• #writetip #writingtip – Writing advice, usually with links to articles.

I hope this helps you connect with others and grow as a writer!