So, here's the thing. I have this setting I've been working on for years now. And the setting ended up with almost 5000 years of extensive lore, and you need to be familiar with several different philosophies and cultures to understand any of it. I was trying to come up with some names for characters in a story I am writing in said setting. And when I was researching how names and languages change I was struck with a thought. Am I overcomplicating this? Do I really need an explanation why there is a guy named "Al Banian" and why the name is actually a remnant from a completely different reality? I'm getting to the point where the lore is so complex it starts to sound stupid if you don't know all the details. Case and point, a guy named "Al Banian".
Another example. There are several creation myths, and three of them are technically correct.
I need some advice. Feel free to ask questions.
A lot of my favorite works have worlds that feel like you're barely getting a glimpse of them. The author has something much bigger than you'll get to see, and it makes the worlds feel alive.
That said, I've dropped a lot of books because there's some sort of explanation of the world. By the time I care enough about a world enough to sit through an explanation I no longer need one.
If your work does well people may clamor for all this extra stuff you made. Maybe then you can publish it. But even then I'd be very cautious. Star Wars was partially killed by explanation. If something that beloved can't bear explanation, that's something to keep in mind.
Personally, I love me a good explanation. When the story completely stops to explain some concept to me. I unironically like that. But it has to be an explanation of something interesting.
However, I am not the standard consumer of media. I watch educational videos for fun. That's why I asked the question in the first place.
Thank you for the comment.