Parallel Structure

I'm a big fan of parallel structure, and I'm noticing it creeping in at the edges of my plans for the novel. There's going to be a long arc for one character that parallels another arc for another character, one that has already taken place. I think it's going to wind up adding lots of additional power to the story because of it.

First, it's going to be interesting to see two very different environments compared with each other. The similarities will be surprising. Second, it's going to be interesting to see the differences in the way the situations are handled. What the reader unconsciously expects to happen will be turned on its head. By using the expectations that get built into the parallel structure, I can provide a storyline that is both surprising and satisfying.

What I don't want to happen is to go all George Lucas on it. There is a limit to what parallelism can and should accomplish, and I don't want to drift into the realm of repeating myself. So long as I make the effort to set up expectations and counter them where appropriate, I think I'll be okay.