jaclyn hagen

Living inside of an imaginative headspace has always felt the most like home to Jaclyn. This most likely originated during her younger years when she would spend countless hours playing outside in the summertime, only dispersing from the other neighborhood kids when the sun decided it needed rest before they did.

Growing up in that nostalgic era when technology was never chosen over indulging in the mild, midwest afternoons, it was this playful upbringing that inspired an innate love of imagination and storytelling for years to come.

“We got so into these worlds that we built,” she said. “I really think it fostered our imagination. At an early age, it really taught us to think in story and to cherish stories. I’m really lucky to have had a predominantly happy childhood. It gave me space to grow without having other things hinder that growth.”

Being immersed in this way of life brought about an immense appreciation for artistic expression, and Jaclyn has always felt comfort in connecting with people through these creative means. Whenever words failed her, she could always count on different forms of art to communicate the abstract.

“I think that being creative brings you closer to God,” Jaclyn said. “Being an English major and learning about writing, I’ve learned so much about how creative God is. When you tap into the creativity that He’s instilled within you, you learn about that aspect of Him and learn to cherish that more. It really just broadens your wonder. I think that God’s creativity is so cool, and I think that he wants us to be creative as well because we are made in His image.”

This outlook has been prevalent in Jaclyn’s career aspirations. With her sights set on becoming a novelist one day, Jaclyn sees how her upbringing has directly impacted her passionate endeavors in the realm of Christian-inspired literature.

“I would just be like ‘wow, there’s something to this’,” she said. “People who can understand that and are more in tune to that can realize that it’s deeply spiritual. To be able to hone in on that even in the slightest sense is the most incredible, magical power you can possess.”

As she continues toward an English degree at Liberty University, Jaclyn has had the privilege to not only immerse herself in studying the craft, but to also see how fiction writing relates to faith in Jesus.

“I think the biggest takeaway for me is looking at fiction writing through a Christian lens and being encouraged by the holiness of that,” she said. “It can really be quite powerful. It’s not a fruitless pursuit that a lot of people brush it off as. Perhaps it’s more useful now than ever.”

Jaclyn believes that Gospel-inspired works should transcend all walks of life, rather than filling an all-too-limited space for mindless Christian entertainment.

Being a believer herself, her faith is bound to influence her craft. The real mission is discovering how it will reveal itself. Rather than preaching on the page, Jaclyn seeks an approachable route that meticulously inserts themes displaying the nature of a divine Creator.

“You want Jesus to be there, but you want Him to be there because He’s in everything,” she said. “That’s the kind of storytelling I want to create. Stories that are deeply human that anyone can pick up and appreciate, but yet stirs your soul to feel something more.”

During the often discouraging in-between process prior to any glimmer of success, it can be difficult to pursue creative expression when the mind is so preoccupied with keeping up with an upperclassmen workload. The burdens of college life can hinder the creative process, making it difficult to produce consistent output.

However, in this current season, Jaclyn rests in the reality that creating something worthwhile takes time. While feeling excitement and anxiety surrounding an unclear future of someone in their early twenties, Jaclyn has learned about the importance of trusting in God’s purpose for her.

Being patient and walking according to His timing has been a constant reminder.

“Hope doesn’t have to disappear at a certain age,” she said. “But at this age, so much of the book has yet to be written. Especially believing in a higher power and knowing that there’s a plan. You just have to keep reading to see what it is. Because I do believe, whether it has to do with writing a book or not, that the more life unfolds, the more things will begin to fall into place.”