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For the most part I've found other authors to be extremely supportive and willing to help out. Recently, however, I've found that several of my peers are happier to look for any way to beat other authors down, even when they haven't read the work. What is the best way to deal with this type of negativity? Generally, I try to ignore it all together. Opinions?

Yes, ignoring is good, but that doesn't mean it won't get under your skin. I am not an active writer myself, but I can believe in this day and age where so many authors are competing for a smaller and smaller market, competition can be fierce. If your stuff is good, you will get there, no matter how many sticks they bring to beat you down. Keep it up!

This isn't constructive criticism, right? Because it would not be wise to ignore that.

I agree that ignoring constructive criticism is definitely not ideal, but if it is spiteful and nasty rather than constructive then of course that will be unpleasant and difficult to ignore. And constructive criticism can be pretty hard to take sometimes.

It's difficult to ignore negativity but unless there is anything positive to gain from it (like from advice within constructive criticism) then I would say that trying to put it aside and move forward is a good way to go about things. Especially from people who haven't even bothered to read the source material before saying negative things. (Not that I approve of ignoring outright nastiness in the hope that it will just go away, these things do need to be addressed though it's sometimes hard to know how and when.)

But yes, I'm sending you positive vibes and a lot of encouragement!

Don't let the negativity get to you unless it's 1. constructive or 2. from people who actually know you and are familiar with your work. The sense I'm getting is that there's just a lot of jealousy flying around. But haters gonna hate. If they aren't familiar with you or your work in any kind of real way, just ignore em. And the best revenge is success after all Positive vibes coming your way!

Fortunately, I don't think I have come across anyone who "puts down" other authors. I have, however, seen cases where I thought that authors just seem really self-centered and didn't seem to appreciate when someone said nice things or helped them out. I personally make a point to try and leave a review for every book that I read, and I personally contact writers I think are especially great. And I read a lot of independent authors just to help out the "little people" who need the help the most. Of all the nice comments and recommendations I have made, I have only gotten a thank you reply from ONE person.

If the criticism is only destructive, then I'd suggest you ignore it and try to find people who are more supportive, or at least willing to criticize you constructively.

Oh! I know! You should write a book about it!