Isaac Bashevis Singer noted, 'The short story has to convey a single impression. It should be a single block of material.' This emphasizes that short stories should be cohesive. All the parts of the story should work together to create one dominant impression in the reader's mind, rather than being a jumble of different ideas.
Hemingway said, 'A short story is like a photograph; it should be as sharp and immediate as possible.' This quote shows that a short story should have an instant impact on the reader, just like a good photograph grabs your attention right away.
Nathaniel Hawthorne believed that 'A short story should be able to be read in one sitting.' This is an important aspect of short stories. They are designed to be consumed quickly, yet still leave a lasting impression. It's about packing a powerful punch in a relatively small amount of text.