never let the facts spoil a good story

Basically, 'never let the facts spoil a good story' is about the idea that a story's allure can be more important than its factual basis. In journalism, this would be unethical, but in creative writing or casual storytelling, it can be different. Think of tall tales or legends. These often deviate from the facts but are still great stories. People might change details or events to fit the mood or message they want to convey in their story. For instance, a fisherman might exaggerate the size of the fish he caught to make his fishing story more exciting for his friends at the pub.

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.

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.

This statement suggests that stories can be a form of escapism or entertainment. We might be more interested in the narrative flow, the characters, and the overall mood of a story. If we always insisted on strict factualness, many great stories, such as fairy tales or science - fiction epics, would lose their magic. Facts can be constraining, while a good story allows for creativity and imagination to run wild.

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.

Sure. In the movie 'Jurassic Park'. There are many scientific inaccuracies. Dinosaurs couldn't actually be re - created in the way shown in the movie with the current technology. But these inaccuracies don't stop the movie from being an amazing story full of adventure and wonder.

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.

This statement implies that a good story can be more important than the factual truth. People like to be entertained, and a well - crafted story can do that better than just stating the facts. Take folk tales for instance. They are passed down through generations not because they are strictly true, but because they make for great stories that teach lessons, inspire, or just amuse. The truth might be too dull or complex to have the same impact.

It means that sometimes people prefer a fictional or exaggerated version of a story rather than the version based strictly on facts. They don't want the cold, hard facts to disrupt the interesting or exciting narrative they have in mind.

It basically means that sometimes you should focus on the entertainment or appeal of a story rather than getting too hung up on whether everything is strictly factual.