Do I use "I have experienced" or "I had experienced"

Question

For a past-tense fiction, my character is trying to convey in the narrative that he has experienced (not sure if even that's grammatically correct or answered my own question) two hallucinations up to right now in the book. The sentence is:

I have/had experienced only two hallucinations so far in my thirteen years of life: the tape recorder and the woman’s voice from it . . .

I've heard so many writers/editors tell me both. And ever after researching it, I am still confused. I think I'm over thinking it all.

Answer 1

Hi Tony,

Using “I have experienced” is grammatically correct because your character is referring to his 13 years of life to date—meaning he is still alive and does not necessarily know what will happen next, period.

I hope this helps!