The Art of Small Talk

Learn to communicate effectively—and painlessly—with this guided workbook’s 100+ writing prompts and activities.

The pandemic took its toll on many aspects of our lives: our desire to go outside, our ability to get properly dressed, and our capacity for face-to-face communication. But while things are mostly back to normal, there is now a pandemic of loneliness afflicting adults. Sometimes seen as trite or trivial, uncomfortable or even embarrassing, small talk—or the polite conversation about unimportant or uncontroversial topics—is actually a necessary skill for any adult. Small talk not only helps you connect to other people, but in doing so, it helps to build confidence in social situations, which in turn enhances health, lifts mood and energy, and improves overall well-being.

In The Art of Small Talk, you will work through a series of exercises, activities, and writing prompts to help you better engage with other people. Topics cover:

• The Four Steps of Small Talk
• “Micro-interactions,” such as a giving or receiving a compliment or having a quick chat in the elevator
• How to widen the range of people you interact with, such as the barista, an Uber driver, or that person in accounting
• How to overcome feelings that others won’t be interested in what you have to say
• How to ask questions of others
• Prompts and verbal cues for starting (and ending) a conversation
• A unique chapter about written communication, which is its own form of small talk
• and so much more!

Activities, challenges, and assignments include things like going on a “Small Talk Scavenger Hunt”—the idea being that as you find, approach, and talk to strangers, you’ll grow more optimistic and confident in your conversational skills—plus many more fun things that will make you the talk of the town.

With loneliness at epidemic proportions, people are yearning more than ever to connect. All it takes is a little bit of small talk to make that first connection—and The Art of Small Talk is the light-hearted, trusted companion you need. 

With so much of our lives and contact going digital, the Guided Workbooks offer an intimate way to nurture your connection with yourself and the people around you. An entertaining way to get off your screen, the pages in these guided prompt books are great for writers and first-timers...read more...