Got a rather specific question. I am a terrible conversationalist.(is that a word?) It doesn't matter who I am talking to. Family, friends, store clerks, girls I'm trying to pickup, the wall, my dogs etc. If I don't have something specifically interesting me at that moment to discuss, I'm as talkative as a mime. It's a pretty bad trait to have for general life.

I can talk forever about things that interest me and whoever I'm talking to. For example, when talking with friends, I can go on endlessly just blabbering. But the notion of a friend is somebody that usually shares interests with you. So of course I can blabber on.

But in the case of a stranger who I know little about, I literally just don't have a clue and have more then my comfortable amount of awkward silences.

And I figure that the residents of seddit will have spent plenty of time dissecting and thinking about problems similar to this. Anybody have any good advice for working up conversation abilities? Not specific things to talk about etc. IE I don't need pickup lines. Maybe, I'm looking for the correct mindstate and outlook regarding conversations. What general way of thinking do people have that sparks good conversation between two strangers?

Is there a solid book to read?

Thanks