Folks, first of all thank you for being part of a huge personal development. Lately I have gotten pretty good at opening, I'm now good at direct and indirect openers. I have a problem in staying and escalating though, if the conversation as much as pauses for about 2 seconds, I have a massive desire to eject from the set. I feel that I may make an otherwise pleasant conversation awkward if I stay longer, and due to that there is a problem closing.

Do any of you feel the same, and how did you overcome this.

Case in point: I met a beautiful girl at a bookstore today, opened by asking her if she was buying A song of ice and fire. We had a nice chat, but as soon as the conversation began to stop a little, I ejected.

Thanks a lot.