2.4.1 Five Classic Story Templates - Five Approaches to Building Story Stickiness

The Origin and Importance of Story Templates

We said that topic selection = satisfaction points + resonance points. But once we have the topic, we need to build the story structure. This is where story templates come in. Templates are like blueprints for building addictive stories.

Why do successful microdramas follow certain templates? Because human psychology is predictable. We have certain expectations about how stories should unfold. When a story follows familiar patterns, it feels satisfying and keeps us engaged.

Template 1: Revenge & 逆袭 (Underdog Victory)

The first template is revenge and 逆袭. This is probably the most popular template in microdramas. The basic structure is: someone is wronged or humiliated, then they come back stronger and exact revenge.

Think about it: we all love seeing the underdog win. Whether it’s a poor person getting rich overnight, or a bullied employee getting promoted, or a divorced person finding true love—the pattern is the same. Someone is at the bottom, then they rise to the top.

The key elements are: humiliation → preparation → comeback → revenge. This template works because it satisfies both conquest needs (revenge) and superiority needs (coming back stronger).

Template 2: Hidden Identity

The second template is hidden identity. This is where the protagonist has a secret powerful identity that others don’t know about. Maybe they’re actually a rich person in disguise, or a powerful martial artist, or an ancient immortal.

The structure is: ordinary life → discovery of secret → use of power → recognition. This template works because it satisfies mating needs (showing off power) and superiority needs (being better than others).

Template 3: Secret Power/Ability

The third template is secret power or ability. Similar to hidden identity, but the power is more supernatural or extraordinary. Maybe the protagonist can heal people, predict the future, or has super strength.

The structure is: normal person → discovers power → uses power to help others → becomes famous. This template works because it satisfies conquest needs (using power) and order needs (helping others, restoring balance).

Template 4: Family Secrets & Inheritance

The fourth template involves family secrets and inheritance. Maybe the protagonist discovers they’re actually from a wealthy family, or they inherit a huge fortune, or they have a powerful relative.

The structure is: poor/ordinary life → family revelation → inheritance/power → new status. This template works because it satisfies mating needs (new status attracts partners) and belonging needs (finding their true family).

Template 5: Love at First Sight & Forbidden Love

The fifth template is love at first sight or forbidden love. This could be meeting the love of your life in an unexpected way, or being forced into a marriage, or loving someone who shouldn’t be together.

The structure is: ordinary life → love encounter → obstacles → ultimate victory. This template works because it directly satisfies mating needs and provides strong emotional resonance.

Why These Templates Work

These five templates work because they all combine strong satisfaction points with relatable resonance points. They give audiences what they want (revenge, power, love, recognition) while making them feel connected to the story.

The key is to choose the right template for your target audience and combine it with the appropriate satisfaction points and resonance points.