Todd Dillard
@toddedillard.bsky.social
“Ways We Vanish” from Okay Donkey, “Ragnarök at the Father Daughter Dance” from Variant, finalist for the Donald Hall AWP Prize, poems in Threepenny, Southern Review, APR, HAD, etc.
Pinned
my issue of Threepenny is here! here’s my poem “Present Tense,” I would love for you to give it a read!
“I know this so loudly I don’t
hear, at first, my father’s silence.”
“I know this so loudly I don’t
hear, at first, my father’s silence.”
lithub’s bracket got me thinking about lit drama and I remembered this tweet which I thought was from 2019 and it’s actually from last year 😣
November 20, 2025 at 2:05 PM
lithub’s bracket got me thinking about lit drama and I remembered this tweet which I thought was from 2019 and it’s actually from last year 😣
everyone is (rightly) applauding this response but it is also funny the AI user misunderstood the point, summarized it incorrectly, misunderstood what “gatekeeping” means, and from this drew a wrong conclusion… exactly like AI
November 20, 2025 at 1:25 AM
everyone is (rightly) applauding this response but it is also funny the AI user misunderstood the point, summarized it incorrectly, misunderstood what “gatekeeping” means, and from this drew a wrong conclusion… exactly like AI
ten year old went from “what should I do with my life” to explaining why she likes blackouts, honestly great job poetry workshops for preparing me for this
November 20, 2025 at 1:18 AM
ten year old went from “what should I do with my life” to explaining why she likes blackouts, honestly great job poetry workshops for preparing me for this
remembering when my kid's class was talking about family traditions and all the kids talked about Christmas things or Hanukkah dinners and my kid said "every Friday we go to McDonald's"
November 19, 2025 at 11:18 PM
remembering when my kid's class was talking about family traditions and all the kids talked about Christmas things or Hanukkah dinners and my kid said "every Friday we go to McDonald's"
honestly could go for a poem that starts "I invented a new crab" or something
November 19, 2025 at 3:40 PM
honestly could go for a poem that starts "I invented a new crab" or something
that Lit Hub bracket is great but also I did not need to remember "is it ableist to expect writers to read"
November 19, 2025 at 3:32 PM
that Lit Hub bracket is great but also I did not need to remember "is it ableist to expect writers to read"
Reposted by Todd Dillard
TRYING to copy a specific style of writing for 450 words is one of the best ways to get better at writing. But closest to the mark isn't the goal. The magic happens where you got it "wrong," where your own voice & interests & tics, etc. couldn't help but shine through, then you keep chasing THAT.
Also copying a specific style for 450 words isn't writing, it's forgery
Typing the words "MFA-trained experts" instantly marks you as a fucking idiot
November 19, 2025 at 2:37 PM
TRYING to copy a specific style of writing for 450 words is one of the best ways to get better at writing. But closest to the mark isn't the goal. The magic happens where you got it "wrong," where your own voice & interests & tics, etc. couldn't help but shine through, then you keep chasing THAT.
as an MFA-trained expert I do NOT feel represented by this
Put writing high quality literary text on the list of things that AIs used to not be able to do but now can do
With fine-tuning, now outperforming MFA-trained expert writers at emulating award-winning authors when rated blindly by MFA-trained experts papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
With fine-tuning, now outperforming MFA-trained expert writers at emulating award-winning authors when rated blindly by MFA-trained experts papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
November 19, 2025 at 2:52 PM
as an MFA-trained expert I do NOT feel represented by this
the two responses when a poem says "Listen."
November 19, 2025 at 2:38 PM
the two responses when a poem says "Listen."
Reposted by Todd Dillard
"Kill every dog, every cat, she said very slowly. Kill every mouse, every bird. Kill every fish. Anyone objects, kill them too."
-The Red Bow, by George Saunders
-The Red Bow, by George Saunders
November 19, 2025 at 2:31 PM
"Kill every dog, every cat, she said very slowly. Kill every mouse, every bird. Kill every fish. Anyone objects, kill them too."
-The Red Bow, by George Saunders
-The Red Bow, by George Saunders
taught my kid when playing Pokémon Go to shake the phone a little “because it helps catch the Pokémon” and five years later she just taught a kindergartener the same “trick” 😶
November 18, 2025 at 10:24 PM
taught my kid when playing Pokémon Go to shake the phone a little “because it helps catch the Pokémon” and five years later she just taught a kindergartener the same “trick” 😶
just remembered this time I turned in a story to my workshop where a dog died and someone gave me the feedback “dogs shouldn’t die in stories”
November 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
just remembered this time I turned in a story to my workshop where a dog died and someone gave me the feedback “dogs shouldn’t die in stories”
Reposted by Todd Dillard
my second poem in the latest issue of @lamplitmag.bsky.social!!!
November 16, 2025 at 2:46 PM
my second poem in the latest issue of @lamplitmag.bsky.social!!!
I like how this can be a five word horror story “this is not my cat” but it’s actually a true four word horror story “this is my life”
November 18, 2025 at 2:14 AM
I like how this can be a five word horror story “this is not my cat” but it’s actually a true four word horror story “this is my life”
what are we doing here
November 17, 2025 at 10:12 PM
what are we doing here
not LitHub doing my “who will miss Twitter the most” from 2023 but with an actual budget 😭
November 17, 2025 at 9:02 PM
not LitHub doing my “who will miss Twitter the most” from 2023 but with an actual budget 😭
Reposted by Todd Dillard
I have a new poem in @havehashad.com that answers the burning question of "what is the opposite of an 'eating poems' poem"
"it's all coming up now,
milkweed and mango..."
www.havehashad.com/hadposts/hei...
"it's all coming up now,
milkweed and mango..."
www.havehashad.com/hadposts/hei...
Heimlich After I Eat Poetry Too Quickly Again by Todd Dillard
It's all coming up now,
milkweed and mango,
grandmothers in kitchens
with their stoic spoons,
crows barking in alder trees,
enough dead deer to overflow football stadiums,
sad f...
www.havehashad.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I have a new poem in @havehashad.com that answers the burning question of "what is the opposite of an 'eating poems' poem"
"it's all coming up now,
milkweed and mango..."
www.havehashad.com/hadposts/hei...
"it's all coming up now,
milkweed and mango..."
www.havehashad.com/hadposts/hei...
seeing marjorie taylor greene abbreviated to MTG is very confusing to my Magic: the Gathering-addled brain
November 17, 2025 at 7:56 PM
seeing marjorie taylor greene abbreviated to MTG is very confusing to my Magic: the Gathering-addled brain
aesthetics is the overlap between "how did they do this" and "why are you like this"
November 17, 2025 at 7:43 PM
aesthetics is the overlap between "how did they do this" and "why are you like this"
me: sigh, another day of arranging images that represent sounds which have meanings derived over millennia
the poem: when I say I love you I mean / I am a clown car / you've turned into a Thanksgiving table / every time I roll the window down / you pass the gravy / and every flower / leaks
the poem: when I say I love you I mean / I am a clown car / you've turned into a Thanksgiving table / every time I roll the window down / you pass the gravy / and every flower / leaks
November 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
me: sigh, another day of arranging images that represent sounds which have meanings derived over millennia
the poem: when I say I love you I mean / I am a clown car / you've turned into a Thanksgiving table / every time I roll the window down / you pass the gravy / and every flower / leaks
the poem: when I say I love you I mean / I am a clown car / you've turned into a Thanksgiving table / every time I roll the window down / you pass the gravy / and every flower / leaks
had a plumber come to the house and while he was talking to me my cat just glowered at him, even when he gently offered her his hand to sniff, and then she perked up SO DRAMATICALLY when I gave her a few pets; love to be the Chosen One
November 17, 2025 at 7:31 PM
had a plumber come to the house and while he was talking to me my cat just glowered at him, even when he gently offered her his hand to sniff, and then she perked up SO DRAMATICALLY when I gave her a few pets; love to be the Chosen One
Reposted by Todd Dillard
Announcing Stanchion's 2026 Pushcart Prize nominations!
Congratulations to all. Thank you for the privilege of publishing your work this year. 🖤🤍
@pushcartprize.bsky.social @toddedillard.bsky.social @writesloud.bsky.social @
Congratulations to all. Thank you for the privilege of publishing your work this year. 🖤🤍
@pushcartprize.bsky.social @toddedillard.bsky.social @writesloud.bsky.social @
November 17, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Announcing Stanchion's 2026 Pushcart Prize nominations!
Congratulations to all. Thank you for the privilege of publishing your work this year. 🖤🤍
@pushcartprize.bsky.social @toddedillard.bsky.social @writesloud.bsky.social @
Congratulations to all. Thank you for the privilege of publishing your work this year. 🖤🤍
@pushcartprize.bsky.social @toddedillard.bsky.social @writesloud.bsky.social @
I have a new poem in @havehashad.com that answers the burning question of "what is the opposite of an 'eating poems' poem"
"it's all coming up now,
milkweed and mango..."
www.havehashad.com/hadposts/hei...
"it's all coming up now,
milkweed and mango..."
www.havehashad.com/hadposts/hei...
Heimlich After I Eat Poetry Too Quickly Again by Todd Dillard
It's all coming up now,
milkweed and mango,
grandmothers in kitchens
with their stoic spoons,
crows barking in alder trees,
enough dead deer to overflow football stadiums,
sad f...
www.havehashad.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I have a new poem in @havehashad.com that answers the burning question of "what is the opposite of an 'eating poems' poem"
"it's all coming up now,
milkweed and mango..."
www.havehashad.com/hadposts/hei...
"it's all coming up now,
milkweed and mango..."
www.havehashad.com/hadposts/hei...
Reposted by Todd Dillard
new Todd Dillard on HAD always a treat of a day!
read the poem Todd said about, "I wanted the poem to look a little barfy, so the odd indent as the lines lengthen are fine IMO"
"It's all coming up now,
milkweed and mango,
grandmothers in kitchens..."
https://www.havehashad.com/mbsra
read the poem Todd said about, "I wanted the poem to look a little barfy, so the odd indent as the lines lengthen are fine IMO"
"It's all coming up now,
milkweed and mango,
grandmothers in kitchens..."
https://www.havehashad.com/mbsra
Heimlich After I Eat Poetry Too Quickly Again by Todd Dillard
It's all coming up now, milkweed and mango, grandmothers in kitchens with their stoic spoons, crows barking in alder trees, enough dead deer to overflow football stadiums, sad fathers with their boots…
www.havehashad.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
new Todd Dillard on HAD always a treat of a day!
read the poem Todd said about, "I wanted the poem to look a little barfy, so the odd indent as the lines lengthen are fine IMO"
"It's all coming up now,
milkweed and mango,
grandmothers in kitchens..."
https://www.havehashad.com/mbsra
read the poem Todd said about, "I wanted the poem to look a little barfy, so the odd indent as the lines lengthen are fine IMO"
"It's all coming up now,
milkweed and mango,
grandmothers in kitchens..."
https://www.havehashad.com/mbsra
double acceptance from The Dodge :)
November 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
double acceptance from The Dodge :)