It's too bad I got here late. I've had this amazing Reddit comment by IpickupGrandmothers saved for almost a year now:

If you're asking a serious question, I (kinda) got an answer for you.

99% of the time, socializing isn't really about a logical exchange of information. Unless, you're having a debate or philosophical discussion or something. It's more about sharing and embracing emotions. "Vibing".

That probably raises more questions than answers. But the point is, people don't really socialize to share information. That's only one aspect. People socialize in order to boost their emotional state.

People like talking about their passions. So if you're looking for topics to talk about, try to find out what they're passionate about. But, when you ask, you have to genuinely be interested in their passions. Otherwise, you'll come off as dull because you're not really interested. You're merely asking for the sake of asking.

That's why a lot of people aren't good at small talk. When they ask, "what do you do", they don't really care. What they're really saying is, "here's a question I can use to pass the time because I'm currently experiencing a large amount of social anxiety". Essentially, they're prioritizing avoiding awkwardness over genuinely trying to learn more about the other person.

Conversely, people like to know your passions. But, you also have to be passionate about your passions when you communicate them. It's all about the emotions of the interaction.

When I go out to a bar or party or something, I generally don't think of a prepared list of topics to talk about. One thing you can do is start taking care of your body. Eat a healthy diet, stay hydrated, get good sleep, exercise, and meditate. This has a massive effect on your mood. When you feel good in your body, you'll find that it's much easier for your brain to think of shit to say in the moment. Plus, when you're feeling good, that vibe will spread to the people around you. So, when you feel good, they feel good. This will make them more comfortable, and it'll make it easier for them to socialize with you. Then that makes you feel good, which makes them feel good, etc. etc.

Also, social skills just flat out take time and effort to practice. I was a late-blooming nerd virgin in my early twenties. Shit takes time to learn and you gotta put in the work, but it's definitely learn-able.

Edit: First time I ever got gold. Thanks!