A narrative essay is one that is written from a particular point of view, which usually comes from a character in the story or a narrator who speaks directly to the reader. The narrative employs that character to describe the plot, setting, other characters, events and relationships to the reader. The narrative usually is written in the form of a story and can use informal text and emotional phrases to further capture the reader's attention.
A personal narrative tells a story about the writer's experience. Common personal narratives often are written in first person because the writer is the protagonist. The writer will attempt to frame the narrative in a way that makes readers feel they are experiencing emotions or an event themselves. This is accomplished using descriptive and lively words that convey emotions behind the writer's actions in the narrative.
An imaginative narrative is a work of fiction. The story is created from the writer's mind and includes events that did not happen in real life. The most important factor in an imaginative narrative is the writer's creativity. Sometimes, the writer is encouraged to add supernatural events to the story that would not happen otherwise. Like the personal narrative, adding vivid words allows the reader to experience imagery created by the writer.
An open narrative is a suspenseful essay that does not produce the sense of an ending. The narrative allows readers to come to their own conclusions about what happens next. The narrative may have multiple plots and many characters without a clear sense of a protagonist. When writing an open narrative, the writer may be encouraged to write sequels, as the readers may express interest in finding out what happens next.