Texting with a new crush can be equally nerve wracking and exciting at the same time. When you really like them but you don’t know where it’s going yet, it’s easy to over-analyze everything, and that can get overwhelming, fast. But nothing beats the butterflies you get when you see their name pop up on your screen, or how good it feels to see each other after a few days of distance. This, my friends, is the talking stage. It’s confusing, it’s fun, and if there’s one thing you need to make it through (besides an immense amount of patience), it’s conversation starters for texting.

Even though everyone’s constantly glued to their phones and in regular communication on social media these days, a lot of people aren’t necessarily great at keeping conversation IRL. That doesn’t mean they don’t like you—they might just not know where to start. Luckily, you do, thanks to the comprehensive list of questions and opening lines we compiled down below. Once you get comfortable with each other, conversation should flow naturally. But until then, use these lines as jumping-off points that can lead into convos to help you get to know each other better. “Think about giving value and adding to their day instead of being just another notification on their phone,” says Mia Lux, co-founder and CEO of the dating app and virtual social club, La Vette.

Just remember: Texting is great, but it’s also hard to accurately assess what someone is like just from their messages. “All the key non-verbal cues (how they sound, how they move, etc.) that give us an idea of if we feel safe with and are attracted to someone are missing,” says Lux. So even if you have great banter via text, make it a point to go on real, in-person dates to get a better sense of your connection.

Whether things are platonic, you’re on a first date, or you’re in a long-term relationship and just wanna mix things up, here are 50 conversation starters for texting that’ll take your banter from basic to productive in 100 characters or less.

Conversation Starters for Texting a Dating App Match

  1. Describe yourself in three words.
  2. What was the best part of your day today?
  3. What’s your strangest talent?
  4. If you were an emoji, what emoji would you be?
  5. What was your first concert?
  6. Who’s your favorite character from a movie, TV show, or book?
  7. If you could have dinner with one person (living or dead) who would it be?
  8. What was the best vacation you ever went on?
  9. What’s your favorite holiday?
  10. What's the best book you've ever read?
  11. If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
  12. If you had to have the same meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
  13. Tell me about your best friend. Where did you meet them? When?
  14. What's your ideal way to spend a weekend?

Conversation Starters for Texting Someone You’re Casually Dating

  1. Do you have a life motto? What is it?
  2. What’s your sign?
  3. Are you more introverted or extroverted?
  4. What’s your biggest pet peeve?
  5. What role do you play in your friend group?
  6. If your life was a movie, what scene would you want to watch on a loop?
  7. What would you do if you won the lottery?
  8. When was the last time you laughed so hard you couldn’t breathe?
  9. What does your perfect day look like?
  10. What’s the most interesting thing you read/saw/heard recently?
  11. If money wasn't a concern, what job would you do and why?
  12. What do you like the most about where you live right now?

Conversation Starters for Texting Someone With Long-Term Potential

  1. Are you a better talker or listener?
  2. What’s the best thing about getting older? What’s the worst?
  3. Who is your role model and why?
  4. What do most people over or underestimate about you?
  5. How often do you visit home? How do you feel when you do?
  6. What’s something that makes you nervous?
  7. What’s your love language?
  8. Did you have pets growing up?
  9. (If no) Would you ever get one?
  10. What’s something that made you feel really proud recently?
  11. How do you define happiness for yourself?
  12. What does your dream life look like if money was no concern?
  13. What do you do to feel better after a really shitty day?

Conversation Starters for Texting a New Partner

  1. What has been your favorite date that we’ve been on together?
  2. What was the highlight and the lowlight of your day? What about your week?
  3. Is there a hobby you’ve been curious about but haven’t tried yet?
  4. Do you have a favorite family member? Why are they your favorite?
  5. What’s your best holiday memory?
  6. Do you have a “most embarrassing” moment?
  7. How would your friends describe you in three words?
  8. What does your dream vacation look like?
  9. If you could do live anywhere without money being a factor, where would you live?
  10. Do you have a self-care routine? What does it look like?
  11. What has been your favorite birthday so far? Why?

Conversation Starters for Texting a Long-Term Partner

  1. What song reminds you of me?
  2. What has been your favorite part of our relationship so far?
  3. Is there a sex thing you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet?
  4. Have you ever read a book/watched a show/listened to a podcast that taught you an important lesson about life?
  5. Has our relationship made you think differently about your hopes and dreams for the future?
  6. What has been your proudest accomplishment in your personal life so far?
  7. Tell me about a time you’ve surprised yourself.
  8. How do you make yourself feel better when you’re in a funk?
  9. If you could build a time machine and go back to any era of your life, which one would it be? Would you do anything differently?
  10. If you could travel into the future and see where you end up, would you do it?

Bookmark this page and remember: You no longer have to talk about the weather or complain about work. Use the above and watch your convos flow with ease!