Do you have any advice for coming up with non-main-plot hijinks? In my writing, I find that my long stories tend to have too straightforward plots, without complications and smaller problems to help with characterization and stuff
Complications and smaller problems are a natural consequence of your characters being characters and not just plot-executing automatons. If your characters feel too married to the plot to have non-plot wants and needs, it might be worth going into your mind-palace and asking them a few questions:
What do you do when nothing needs doing? How do you relax? CAN you relax?
How do you handle peace? Do you enjoy it? Do you trust it? Do you look for distractions, or for threats?
What would you be doing if the plot wasn't in the way? Have you ever really thought about it?
Now that things have slowed down a little, how do you feel about the stuff that just happened? Do you need to talk about it?
I'm the writer, so I know what's coming next, but you don't. What uncertainties are currently preying on your mind? Do you want to do anything to resolve them? How do you handle it if you can't?
What goals do you personally have that aren't shared with the rest of your crew? Do you have an opportunity to pursue that right now? Do you think anyone else in the crew might want to help you with that?
The camera mostly focuses on the important plot beats, but what do you do when the camera's off? What's your morning routine? What do you do for dinner? What does a Normal Day look like when the plot's not intruding?
The events of the plot typically put the characters into a reactive state, responding to outside circumstances and problems. What do they do when they're in an active state with nothing to react to? How do they want to steer themselves when they're given the choice?
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