I'm pretty new to the concept of pick-up (discovered it about two months ago) and seem to have a hit a wall in my development.

My approach anxiety is well controlled at this point. I've been totally blown off enough times now so I don't really care about being rejected. My problem comes after the opener thread runs its course: I completely freeze and a horrible blankness descends in my head. I know vaguely what to do--neg the target, tell a DHV story, run a routine, etc. But for some reason I can never decide where to go and I stand there dumbstruck and I either eject or the girl offers a conversational thread (I'm a pretty good looking guy so sometimes I luck out with girls just being attracted to me). The problem with this of course is it's usually something boring like where are you from and what do you do. And as Mystery says, if she's bored, it's your fault. I figure it's better to eject than to engage in bullshit small talk that doesn't go anywhere.

The blankness is something I've never felt in any other context. I feel hopeless, I stammer horribly, and I just feel like curling up into a ball and going to sleep (weird huh?). Part of the problem is I just don't know what to say next, and I have issues getting into a talkative state. I did come up with a DHV story to tell but it feels really weird for me to open and then randomly say "hey check this out" and tell a totally random story. Is this something I just need to push through? Should I focus on learning routines like the lying game and best friend test instead?

I feel pretty discouraged after having the same problem set after set after set for three nights in a row. I realize that part of the problem are my inner game self esteem issues and getting into a talkative state. Maybe I'm just in over my head and need to focus on the basics like talking to random strangers with no intent of picking them up, to practice being a talkative person (which I am with my friends).

So in short I obviously need more practice, but I feel a bit lost. Should I focus on coming up with DHV stories and just blurting them out? Should I focus on Style-like routines? Or is the biggest problem not being in a fun, excited, talkative state? I tend to think that if I were just more talkative a lot of the stuff in my head would fall out on its own. I appreciate any pointers you guys have!

Routines are good for openers but girls can smell bs a mile away so dont have to many routines in your game. I had a problem with small talk all i did to get rid of it is read a few books and talk to random ppl i had no interest in picking up practice makes perfect. Get her talking about her school what she going for, sports shes in, what she likes to do for fun. Just pay attention when shes talking ppl always drop hints about things they like to talk about the hard part is reconizing this.