Contrary to popular belief, a short story isn't simply a short version of a novel or a long piece of flash fiction. The short story is its own artform with its own nuance and emphasis. Edgar Allan Poe spoke of the form as providing "a single and unique effect" and believed that every word must be in service to that effect--more in line with poetry, maybe, than other types of prose writing. Participants are encouraged to bring along one copy of a published story they admire that was written by someone else.