Is 'never let the truth interfere with a good story' a good principle in all forms of writing?

Yes, in the context of fiction. Fiction is a form of art and creativity. As long as it's clear that it's a fictional story, it's okay to not be strictly truthful. Writers are free to create worlds and characters that deviate from reality to make a great story.

Well, it implies that a good story is more important than the truth in some cases. Take folk tales or legends, for instance. They are full of elements that may not be strictly true but are there to convey a moral or just to be an exciting story. People like to be entertained, and if the truth gets in the way of that entertainment, this saying suggests that the truth can be sacrificed for the sake of a great story.

Well, it could imply that a good story has its own value regardless of the truth. In some cases, like in fairy tales or legends, the story is more about entertainment and passing on certain cultural values rather than being strictly factual. So, we don't let the harsh or boring truth get in the way of a great narrative. For instance, in the story of Cinderella, there are magical elements that are clearly not true but make the story so much more appealing.

In general, it's not a good principle for all types of writing. While in fictional storytelling, it can add an element of fun and creativity, in other areas it's unacceptable. Consider historical fiction. You can take some liberties with minor details to make the story flow better, but you can't completely distort historical facts. In contrast, in a research report, the facts are the foundation, and any deviation from them would render the work invalid. So, it's a principle that should be used very selectively.

One way is to be liberal with facts. For example, if you're writing a historical fiction, you can change some minor historical details to fit your plot better. Just make sure not to distort the overall essence of the era.

It means that sometimes people prefer to stick to an interesting or fictional narrative rather than let the boring or inconvenient truth disrupt it. For example, in fictional stories, authors might take some liberties with historical facts to make the story more engaging.

It means that in creative writing, sometimes strict adherence to facts can limit the imaginative and engaging aspects of a story. For example, a historical fiction writer might tweak some minor historical details to make the plot more exciting or to better fit the character arcs. It's about prioritizing the narrative's entertainment value over absolute truth.

In marketing and advertising, it means focusing on the story that sells the product rather than strict facts. For example, a beauty product might claim to give 'flawless skin' which is more of a story than a pure truth as no product can make everyone's skin truly flawless. But it makes for a good marketing story.

In writing fiction, you can use the concept by being creative with the plot. Ignore some real - life limitations. Suppose you're writing a story about a character who can fly. Don't let the fact that humans can't fly in real life stop you. Build a world around this ability and make it believable within the context of your story. You can also exaggerate certain elements for dramatic effect without being hindered by the truth.

One way is to play with the facts. You can change the time period or the setting slightly to make the story more interesting. For instance, if you're writing a love story set in the present day, you could move it to a more romantic era like the 1920s. This gives you more scope for creating a good story without being too bound by the modern - day truth. Also, you can add fictional elements like a magical object that helps the characters. As long as it serves the story well, it doesn't matter if it's not true in real life.