You don`t need to remain tongue-tied. There are a number of things you can talk about when you don`t know what to say:

1. Mention a recent movie

These days, there are almost always new movies coming out. Mention a recent one that you’ve seen, and ask the people around you their opinion of it.

If you want to really jump start the conversation, bring up a controversial film (like “Avatar”) and you will get people talking in no time.

2. Ask where the person is from

One thing that people love to talk about is themselves. Ask where someone in the group is from, and then ask follow-up questions about the place.

What were summers/winters there like? Why did they leave? What did they like best about the place?

3. Mention a favorite hobby or pastime

You can also always bring up some hobby or pastime that you enjoy. If people express an interest in it, you can tell them all about it; how you got started, how it’s done, where you go to do it, and so on.

A real help in what to say when you don’t know what to say

is to pick out a hobby or pastime that is very different

from the usual.

For example, if you like cave exploring (also known as spelunking), mention that before saying you like to play soccer.

4. Ask about the person’s family

About the only thing people like to talk about more than themselves is their family. Just one word of warning here: make sure the person you ask about their family actually has one. If not, that can really kill the conversation.

If the person has shown off pictures or mentioned their family previously, then ask what their spouse likes to do. You can ask how their kids are doing in school, and if they have sports or hobbies they like to do. This can also lead to you bringing up your family.

5. Talk about literature

Given the huge amount of reading material around today, you can talk about new novels that are in the bookstores, e-books available online and even graphic comics.

Look around at the people you’re with, and try to gauge

what sort of book would be best to mention. A teen or young adult crowd would be interested in graphic novels, kids might like Harry Potter and adults might enjoy a talk on the latest thriller or romance novel.

6. Bring up politics

These days there is one subject on which everyone has an opinion, and that is politics.

You may need to take care with this subject; if there are people around you that have very extreme views on politics (“Obama’s a communist!” or some such thing), bringing this subject up runs the risk of causing an all out war.

7. Talk about the weather

When all else fails, you can bring up the weather. It may

be a rather weak subject, but it is at least something

everyone can talk about and usually has an opinion on.

As you can see, when you’re stuck for a subject to talk

about, there are ways to deal with the situation of what to say when you don’t know what to say. Make use of a few of these methods, and you’ll always have something to talk about.

1. Do not be embarrassed by the conversation slump

It is actually a funny situation if you think about it, because the nose dive in conversation happens to us all and is the pun of many comedians.

It is also sometimes an embarrassing situation because we are left trying to figure out what the next move is. Perhaps it is ours. Maybe it is theirs.

There are actually no rules. Anyone will be glad if you step in to rescue a conversation.

2. Bring up something familiar

People like to talk about things that they are familiar with and can relate to. For example, many people are familiar and interested with current affairs. Current affairs can bring life to a lull in the conversation.

3. Use your surroundings

There will be many things around and about you that make great conversational subjects when there is nothing else to talk about. Sometimes the seemingly most insignificant thing can spark a conversation.

Take a look around your environment and see what others might not. Your unique observation can become a source of an interesting subject when there is nothing else to talk about.

4. Listen and be ready to participate

You should be ready to step into the conversation at the right time. To be an active participant in any interaction means you have to listen and pay attention.

From this you can catch ideas and process them and at the right time contribute to the conversation when there may be a lull. Also, not listening to the person who is talking is a big contributor to conversations falling flat.

However, it takes both the speaker and listener to make nothing to talk about into some thing fun and worthwhile to talk about.

5. Interact!

Having a good interactive line takes exactly what was mentioned in the previous paragraph: listening!

What is meant by having a good interactive line is to ask questions at the right time, throw in the agreements where appropriate and just basically being involved in the conversation so you keep it moving along.

6. Ask questions

This is a very good way to develop an interactive line of conversation with anyone. Asking pertinent questions at the right time can keep a conversation going onto a variety of different directions, which naturally turns nothing to talk about into ideas that are great conversation topics.

But again this takes the skill of listening and paying attention to what is going on around you.

We have covered six approaches you should take when there`s nothing to talk about. Now let us end with a couple of things you really should not do if you want to rescue the conversation.

1. Do not show impatience

Many people have a tendency to show nervousness and sometimes even agitation when they find themselves among others where there is no conversation.

Your impatience can make others nervous and when people are nervous this creates a tense environment and makes it even more difficult to find things to talk about.

Instead, assert your interest by bringing up something that is fun that everyone can relate to.

2. Do not get nervous

Never be too embarrassed to bring up something to talk about when everyone else might think there is nothing to talk about. You would be surprised at the subjects people are interested in talking about. So be assertive and put something interesting out there.

Everyone has experienced situations where there is nothing to talk about. These types of interactions can create uneasiness, but there are things you can say when there is nothing to talk about.

1. Pay attention to what others say over the course of the conversation

In so doing, you can pick up valuable pieces of information. What subjects have they talked about, have they spoken of their family, hobbies, or maybe what their favorite sports are? You can then ask questions about those subjects, or maybe offer talking points of some of the subjects.

2. Ask questions

This goes hand in hand with point one. If someone has spoken on those subjects – ask about them. If they haven’t – ask about them. Something as simple as “where you from originally?” can lead to a real boost in the conversation.

It is often said that there is nothing people like more than to talk about themselves. Ask someone in the group a question about themselves.

3. Study current events

Sometimes you want to avoid the subject of religion or politics, especially given how angry the current US political system has made people.

There are plenty of current events that can help to beef up a waning conversation. Pay attention to recent movies, new music artists or releases, TV shows, and what celebrities are up to.

Also, what’s going on in your community? Is the local high school football team going to be playing a game soon? Is a community theatre getting ready to put on a new show? Are there arts and crafts fairs, art festivals or any other type of public events coming up?

By talking about any of these events, you can renew the energy of your chat. You can talk about religion, politics, and other so-called hot button issues, if you truly feel comfortable with all of the people in the group, but be wary of this.

4. Share something personal

Are you currently dating or married? Do you have a wedding or graduation coming up in your family? Do you have a special interest or hobby?

Maybe you write in your free time and a short story you wrote, or even a full book is going to be published.

You can talk about that; just be wary of dominating the conversation by doing nothing but talk about you and your accomplishments.

5. Check out your surroundings

Where are you: a house, an art gallery, a museum? Start talking about something around you. While some places do not lend themselves to a great conversation, you might see something that makes you think of some place great you’ve been, and you can then shift the conversation to that subject.

6. Six degrees of separation

While this is a game, it’s also what to do when conversation dies. Think about some subject someone mentioned, and think of something else to talk about. As an example: someone spoke of a vacation to Hawaii. When the conversation wanes, ask yourself what Hawaii makes you think of: pineapples, the TV show Hawaii-Five-O, surfing? You can then bring up this other subject.

7. Tell a joke

Depending on the makeup of the group, you might be able to tell a risque one, or you might have to go with a clean joke. The point is that a little humor can go a long way toward lightening the mood, and getting people to continue talking.

Most people know at least a few jokes; so if you tell one that can lead to other people telling more.

These are some useful pointers on what to do when conversation dies. With a little practice, you’ll do well at keeping any sort of social event alive.

All good conversation is story telling.

Yes, when you meet friends, family and new people everyone is looking for the same thing. They all want to have an entertaining, interesting conversation. Most of the time this means you will make a great impression when you bring up interesting topics of conversation told in the form of a story.

For example let`s say a new hotel has just opened in your city. One way to mention this is to give the facts and the statistics – it is a 5 Star hotel with 200 rooms, a gym, great views of the skyline and a roof top restaurant.

That is not the way I`d introduce that news as a topic of conversation. I`d tell a story…

“On Tuesday evening last night a little after 8pm I was walking down Main street with Lisa when we spotted unusual red lights way down the street. We had some time to kill before meeting her sister so we walked a few more blocks until those red lights got closer and closer. We still didn`t know what the lights were about.

Anyway, we got to the building and noticed that “the beautiful people” were everywhere looking cool. And those red lights were all around the building. Very unusual.

Its a hotel but it doesn`t look like any hotel I`ve ever seen. As you walk up to the entrance its more like walking into a cross between a really weird art gallery and a European late night bar.

We walked in and ended up talking to the manager. Very nice guy. He even gave us a tour of the bar and restaurant before taking us up in the elevator to the roof. What a view! You can see right across the city from up there.

I was impressed. This is a very unusual hotel. I`ve never seen anything like it.”

Notice how I shared a news item without making it sound like a news broadcast. I shared very few facts. I would share more information if the person I`m talking to asks me to tell them more. First I need to get their attention to see if they have any interest in that subject. Story telling is the best way to do that.

How To Be A Great Story Teller That Gets People To Listen

1. Build up a portfolio of great stories

I have many stories I tell again and again when I meet different people. When I meet new people these stories are new to them so its okay to recycle my old favourites. And, the more you tell a great story the better it gets. You can relax because you already know what you are going to say.

Forget about being original with everyone you meet. The best conversationalists I have ever met and learned from all share one key characteristic. they all have a stock of great stories they tell with enthusiasm and passion. They`ve told these stories so many times they look like masters of conversation. The truth is that practice makes perfect.

2. Always be on the look out for new and interesting stories

We live in such fast changing times that there are amazing new developments almost everyday of the week. Share these news items as stories and you`ll find people are interested to hear what you have to say.

Listen to local radio and visit web sites that cover your city to keep up to date with local news that could be interesting to your friends and family. You need to keep your eyes and ears open to pick up new conversation fuel or you`ll run out of things to say when you meet people.

3. Read good stories

What makes for an interesting story? Its the way you tell it as much as the story itself. Learn from great story tellers, copy their approach and you`ll find other people are a lot more interested in hearing your story.

Read good fiction to develop your conversation skills. Pay attention to how stories unfold and you`ll see how many, many conversation topics can be interesting as long as you know how to tell a good story.

4. Always focus on the human element

Talk about local news and what is happening in your community, talk about amazing new technologies or discuss the latest cool electronics gadget. That`s all good but remember to tell a story rather than merely share facts and figures.

The best way to keep it interesting is to focus on the people behind the news item. Talk about the mad genius who worked through the night to create the latest space age cell phone. Mention the 11 year old prodigy who figured out how the city can save millions by reconfiguring the computer systems that run city hall.

The people behind the facts are always much more interesting that what they did as long as we get to hear about how they think and how they live. Magazines and interviews are good sources for profiles about these people who shape the world we live in. If you read about their work pay close attention to the description of their personality and work style. Later this will be the basis for your story about their breakthrough.

Now, get out there and tell stories that entertain people and leave them eager to hear more.