There is no way someone can convince me that Twitter is not time well wasted. I spend a lot of time on Twitter, it’s a fantastic social media and networking tool.

What is Twitter? Take all those cute little instant messenger programs you use, MSN, YIM, AIM, combine your friends lists and limit yourself to 140 Characters. Throw that in a blender with something called a Follow feature, which lets you follow nearly anyone you want to. Hit the highest setting, add in some really cool people and you have Twitter.

Who are some of those really cool people? Let us begin with Wil Wheaton. He doesn’t follow many people in return, but he comes up with some funny stuff in 140 characters. A bunch of the podcasters I listen to are there too – Tee Morris, Mur Lafferty, Scott Sigler, JC Hutchins, Nathan Lowell and more. You can even follow the presidential candidates.

Twitter, while being great for getting your social fix and avoiding social bunnies (Yes, I play too much Sims 2), is a wonderful networking tool. I can honestly say that since I’ve started using Twitter this blog has gone up in readers and subscribers, which tickles me pink. It’s also a primary motivator for keeping the blog going because I get to chatter with these people, hear what they say about their work or their days and help encourage them on hard days.

The Tribe, as the podcasters call themselves and their followers, are inclined to toss out sneak peeks of their work or simply keep their fans at the edges of their seats by discussing how good someone’s submission to their anthology is. That would be JC by the way; he’s been tormenting the 7th Son fans by tweeting how good the submissions for Obsidian are. Just load it in an IV already and hand me the needle.

Sure, this may all sound like a huge time sink, and it certainly can be, but as I mentioned before I simply can’t think of it that way. Why; because JC Hutchins found a job at Myxer.com to be PAID to be on Twitter and to podcast and be the social media god that he is. Talk about landing a job doing what you love!

If you’re in to the social media thing then you have to check out Twitter. Don’t want to have a browser window open all day I suggest Twhirl for Windows/Mac users, though the Tribe members with Macs all seem to use Twitterrific. This is simply a fun way to see what your friends and maybe some of your favorite podcasters, actors and politicians are up to.