Nothing Wasted: Life Experiences Worth Writing About by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

A Florida girl since birth, the first time I saw snow fall was in my early thirties on a church ski trip to North Carolina. For my northern friends, you probably played in the snow before you learned to walk. Do you remember your childhood wonder and excitement? My introduction to the white stuff as an adult felt much the same way.

That trip, I learned to ski for the first time. My boyfriend—now husband—taught me. I was an absolute klutz, but he was incredibly patient with me and some of our other friends who were skiing for the first time.

As I wobbled in the bulky ski boots and tried not to “garage sale” (or lose both poles and skis in a wipe-out), I imagined how much more awkward the experience would have been if I were learning from my ex-boyfriend.

Just like that, part of my premise for Take My Hand was born. My heroine Kaley does indeed learn to ski from her ex-boyfriend on a trip that shatters her relational expectations and introduces a level of danger she never imagined her job as a trauma therapist could generate.

Memorable life experiences make good writing material, but so do challenging ones. The fact that I was single into my early thirties was a hard pill to swallow. I didn’t understand why God asked me to wait to meet my husband, but I trusted He had a plan. That struggle is one that I share with my hero Liam Bracken in my second Crossroads Suspense novel, Hold Your Breath.

As a writer, I try not to waste my experiences but use them to make more believable characters and relatable conflicts. Doing so gives me an even greater respect for the Author of my life, my Lord Jesus Christ, who orchestrates all my experiences for a reason. I love this rhetorical question by Elisabeth Elliot: “Is anything offered to Christ ever wasted?”

The answer, of course, is no. God doesn’t waste our hurt, sufferings, or wipe-outs. We can offer them back to Him and trust Him for some purpose in them, even if we may never understand it. We can also offer Him our joys, celebrations, and successes, knowing He uses those in our lives too.

As a writer, that thought brings me so much comfort. I can offer my Lord all my experiences—and all my stories—and trust Him to make of them whatever He sees best. Nothing wasted.

What is one of your life experiences you think would make great book material? How has God used that experience in your life?

Learn more about Kristen and her books on her website.