So I've been struggling to make and keep friends in college. I'm too nervous to hang out 1 on 1 with new people because I don't know how to have interesting conversations that don't fizzle out in 30 seconds and then we both go quiet, so I avoid it like the plague. I take an interest in the person by asking questions (I can really struggle with coming up with good ones), but it's not fun if it's just me asking a question, them responding, me reacting, and then them maybe asking it back to me before we both go quiet again and stand there awkwardly. I know I'm supposed to branch out conversation from their response, but a lot of the times it never happens in the moment because I just can't think of anything.
I'm confused as to how people begin an interesting conversation, and keep it going for a long time instead of just a spree of asking and answering questions. I understand stories are an important part of connecting, but often times I don't know which stories are worth telling, or how to grab someone's attention with it.
I really just want to be a naturally charismatic person that everyone wants to be around, but I'm not, and so I'm trying to learn key conversational skills to help make and keep some more friends. Please help!