A Great posts about Writing Templates from Anne R Allen.
Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog
on Anne R. Allen:
There’s more to writing a great story than just ticking off plot and character boxes.
Template is an ambiguous term in writing. It can refer to a writer’s personal style sheet used when developing a story, tools for brainstorming, or worksheets to figure out various plot and story arcs.
However, it can also refer to an exacting form that promises the perfect story by following blindly along.
When templates are used for developing stories or to help keep writers focused, they’re useful. But when they dictate how writers should write their books and tell their stories—especially if they give false hope as to the marketability of those stories—they lead writers down a dangerous path.