When writing a story, do you have to add background to why something happened or can you simply put it into another whole book?

I don’t think you have to go into it in too much detail. Just a hint can create tension and make the reader curious enough to want to read on. You can explain more later as the story develops if you like, but you are in charge, it is your story and you can tell it any way you want.

I do not think so. In fact, it could be detrimental.
For example, in Star Wars, you did not need to know why Darth Vader became Darth Vader.
The prequels and their depiction of a whiny brat Anakin Skywalker diminished the character.
The same with the Borg in Star Trek, with their initial depiction as a quasi irresistable force of nature, and their ruination in later iterations, specifically Star Trek Voyager, and First Contact.

Can anybody provide a link to the question: “What are the best worldbuilding strategies to use in fiction?” It was asked by @give_seek about a month ago.

I would cut and paste because it answers @idktimmyturner quite well in hinting at a backstory htoughout a work of fiction, movie, or T.V. series.

There were some excellent answers that would be beneficial but to cut and paste other jellies might violate Fluther policies.

@Yellowdog Will do! thanks!
@ragingloli You have a point. Thank you.
@flutherother Thanks for the advice.

How is the backstory handled in some books that you admire?

@give_seek’s question that @Yellowdog recommended. Click on my link in this answer and read the answers on the question it takes you to.

Thanks, @chyna —don’t know why, but I often have trouble with posting links.

@idktimmyturner Please click on the link @chyna provided in the above response.
There’s some really good information about making a fictional world / set of circumstances seem real, with a good backstory woven into the story / series.

@Yellowdog, the syntax for posting links appears right beneath the Answer box. Just copy the link and paste it in the box, following the syntax given if you want to show text instead of the link itself.

You don’t have to. J.R.R. Tolkien built a huge world with a rich history that was only hinted at in his stories for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The appendices in The Lord of the Rings fleshed out this history a little, but it wasn’t until The Silmarillion (published more than two decades later, and a few years after his death) that the deeper history of his world began to be told.

Background stories are necessary for building your characters. But it should be something you write on your personal notes. How much of the backstory is seen by the reader will depend on the flow of the story.

You don’t need to write it all in a book, but you should already know that background story. Storytellers who try to improvise that background story are obvious and disappointing.

Hey, George Lucas… I’m looking at you!

@JaneJLocane Welcome to Fluther!