I see this pop up a lot in writing communities:
“I want to find people who are as excited about my book as I am.”
The answer—if I’m being honest—is:
You probably won’t.
And that’s okay. In fact, it’s normal.
Your Relationship With Your Book is Unique
You’ve lived with this story for weeks, months, maybe years.
You know every hidden backstory, every piece of symbolism that will never make it onto the page. You’ve written and cut whole scenes no one else will ever read. You’ve stayed up late turning plot points over in your head, or had whole conversations with characters while waiting in line at the supermarket.
Of course you’re the most excited person in the world about this book.
You built it.
That Doesn’t Mean People Won’t Care
Readers can care deeply about your story. They can love it, be moved by it, recommend it to friends, reread it a dozen times.
But their relationship will always be different from yours.
For them, it’s a story.
For you, it’s part of your life. A thing you carried and shaped and worried over. You can’t expect anyone else to feel that level of ownership or intimacy—and that’s fine.
You Can’t Outsource Your Enthusiasm
It’s natural to want cheerleaders. Writing is a lonely job, and a little encouragement can go a long way.
But if you’re relying on other people’s excitement to fuel you, you’ll stall the moment it isn’t there. The energy to keep going has to come from you.
Your book doesn’t need fans right now. It needs a writer who will show up, page after page, even when no one else is watching.
Find the Right Kind of Support
That doesn’t mean you have to do this alone. You can find people who will care—just don’t expect them to mirror your excitement exactly.
- A good beta reader won’t squeal over every chapter. They’ll point out what’s not working. That’s how they help.
- A good writing buddy might cheer you on, but they have their own work to focus on too.
Expecting others to love your story exactly as you do will only leave you disappointed.
What you need right now isn’t shared excitement—it’s useful feedback and quiet encouragement to keep going.
Where the Real Excitement Comes From
If you want people to get excited about your story, finish it.
Readers will connect to the finished book, not the work-in-progress. They can’t love the version that only exists in your head.
The Simple Truth
The book doesn’t need an audience to love it while you’re still writing it.
It needs you to love it enough to finish.