With #authormentormatch picks and the #pitchwars showcase looming, I thought I'd address one of the worst parts of the writing journey: professional jealousy. Sometimes it just plain sucks to be an "unsuccessful" writer seeing all the shiny "chosen ones" on twitter. (1/10)

I’ve been there. A lot. Most people are going to struggle with it from time to time. But the fact that you feel this way is a sign of how much passion you have for your goal, and there are ways to mitigate the ugly feelings and get your confidence back to rights. (2/10)

1. Mute the contest hashtags and phrases like “now repped by” if you’re not in the headspace to see them. Take hiatuses. Don’t feel like you have to be on 24/7 congratulating others. Anyone on a publishing high has felt the low, no one will hold stepping away against you. (3/10)

2. Find fun in the community. There are some great hashtag chats ( #WIQchat and #SFFtalk come to mind) that will give you a chance to answer questions, share your aesthetics, and find like-minded writers to hype and be hyped by in return (also a great way to pick up CPs!) (4/10)

3. Consult an animal friend. My horses have zero conception of what a novel is, and when I look into their eyes I share that blissful ignorance. Your dog thinks you're great. Your cat will take over the keyboard to protect you. (5/10)

4. Ask your friends for a positivity pass. Do your own positivity pass. Do you love your MC? Write dialogue that makes you laugh? Feel excited about the rep you’re bringing? Hold onto that. Bite anyone in publishing who tries to take that feeling from you. (6/10)

5. Scream into a pillow. Repeat as necessary. (7/10)

6. Read a good book, to remind yourself of what you’re aiming for and why we love words so much.

7. Read a bad book, to fuel your pettiness. Pettiness is excellent emergency productivity fuel. (8/10)

8. Know that this too shall pass. Envy doesn’t make you a bad person, a bad writer, or any less valuable to the community. (9/10)

I know these aren’t going to replace the desire for gatekeeper validation, so I won't pretend they will. You’re still going to want that validation, and want it badly. But every writer you've ever loved has been where you are, and come out the other side. You can, too. (10/10)