How to Keep a Reader Interested During Slower Parts of the Story

thewritingrealm:

A writing guide requested by galaxys–end

While the main plot is building, as a writer you still must keep the reader interested.

Expand your subplots.
Consider character relationships. Is your MC fighting with their best friend? Are the siblings having a break through?
Consider romantic relationships.
When achieving their goal becomes slow, does your character lose faith? Focus? Hope? What is their mental state like?
Does your character have a good support system? Are they lonely? Can your character motivate themselves, even when times get tough?

How is your character dealing with what’s going on in their life emotionally?Are they happy? Grieving? Depressed? How are they coping? Do they have support from those in their life?

Is your character physically well?
Stress can have detrimental affects on health. Is your character run down? How is the character’s health in relation to their goal?
Consider reworking the plot. If the other aspects of your story can’t uphold a reader’s attention, maybe you should change how the plot works.