Hi anon, can you tell me more about what specifically you're having trouble with? Maybe an example?
I'm always happy to talk about writing :)

For me, writing chats is SO much easier than writing prose. Regarding conversation starters, I think I kind of just start very in medias res / by kicking in the door. So... I'm afraid I'm the absolute worst person to ask for advice >.<
I usually have a list of scenes I want to include in a chapter so I already know what needs to happen in a certain conversation, and that usually leads me very organically into a conversation starter. I wonder if having more of a plan for a chat would help you too? Or maybe you could start the chat at a point where it feels easy for you and then come back and write the start of the conversation later?

Some general thoughts about / tips for writing chat fic & OT8:
- not everyone has to reply to every statement every time! there will always be people who talk more and people who talk less in any chat
- if you're writing a scene where everyone is in the same room but they're all texting instead of talking to each other you have to mention a reason for it or it's not believable (ex: staff present, in public, someone is sleeping...)
- if you're unsure if your dialogue sounds natural try reading it out loud
- it's pretty much impossible to write in a way that every member gets exactly 1/8 of the scenes, especially when one relationship is the focus in that chapter / story arc. One thing I do is when I'm almost done with a chapter is I look through my list of scenes and make sure every one has at least one scene / has talked in the chapter. If I've missed someone I add at least a small additional conversation and make a note to write that member more in the next couple of chapters.

Hope this helps a little bit <3