Picking a Timeline: Why a Century from Now
Forged Series: Writing process
To learn more about the FORGED series, visit the Table of Contents.
Why a century from now
One question I often receive is: when writing Tessaβs story, how did I decide that it would be set in the future, a century from now? Did I spin a calendar roulette wheel? Throw a dart at a planner? Play almanac bingo?
Nope.
Timeline and world-building
The distance into the future was deliberate. When Tessaβs story was first revealed to meβI equate myself as the conduit through which she told her story vs. me making up her storyβI knew that a significant amount of time needed to have passed from today for her world to be in existence.
I knew that for her story to make sense, the United States could no longer exist. The geography of the North American continent needed to have shifted. And the population would need to be much smaller than the current world population. Though the first two changes can seemingly occur in the blink of an eye, they also require space to unfold.
It was a new utopia.
Until it all began to unravel.
Excerpt from Shattered, book one of the FORGED Series, published by Provender Press, 2025.
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Giving context for the shifts
Even more than the fact that todayβs society needed to disappear, I knew that a new society needed to rise, and cracks in the new society needed to have formed. Again, this would need time to develop.
I started creating a timeline, complex enough to list specific events, yet generally based on recent real-world events (and fears about where we are headed). For example, the January 6, 2021, United States Capitol attack made me wonder what would happen to our government buildings, places of worship, and community gathering centers if systems became truly overwhelmed. And political polarization is playing out in real time, making it easy to include in the world-building equation.
In terms of climate change, I considered what would exacerbate temperature increases and how long increased seismic activity would need to persist to drastically alter the face of the planet. To the created timeline, I added the Great Changes (2034-2058), which were triggered by major earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Shifting tectonic plates and activity along fault lines around the world would cause landmasses to change. One of the many rabbit holes I traveled down while researching what might be possible included temporal clusters of earthquakes. A topic for another time.
Since we were coming out of the COVID-19 Pandemic as I wrote the story, I looked into the frequency and severity of pandemics. By placing the story a century in the future, another pandemic would likely have occurred, further straining relief efforts and resources. Plus, a failed attempt to contain a global pandemic would allow for a massive death toll, culling the world population to a point I envisioned would exist in the storyβs timeline.
Using these major causes to create a possible future, I realized that the story could not be set in a near future of a couple of decades. I needed to allow time for the world to fall apartΒ andΒ rebuild into a pseudo-stable society.
Adding up the years
In the Forged world timeline, the physical division of the country from the Great Changes overburdened relief efforts, and civil unrest made centralized governance impossible by the mid-2050s. Political polarization between the parties created a vacuum and opened the door for ideological extremist groups, who jockeyed for power. When the last elected President of the United States, Rachel Llewellyn, was assassinated in 2059, the last vestiges of the US federal government crumbled. By 2062, the United States of America no longer existed.
Between 2066 and 2072, pockets of civilized order developed in the Pacific Northwest around places with renewable energy resource capabilities. Survivors gravitated to the security of the powered urban centers, which flourish with technological and scientific advancements. Six independent utility zones were established in what was once Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and southern British Columbia. The power directors of these zones heavily influenced the shaping of civil order for their zones, filling the void left by the collapse of federal, state, and local governments.
As order returned to the region, the power directors developed alliances with the power directors of other zones, which led to trade and growth between the groups. In 2085, official talks began to formalize one system of government for the region. After nearly three years of proposals and debates, leadership groups in each of the six zones finally reached a mutually acceptable agreement, signing a formal declaration of government to form the United Pacific Territories.
To avoid the divisiveness that marked the two-party system of US politics, public voting was eliminated, and the zones were led by an eight-person Board of Advisors, with one member designated as the Zone Governor. No established term limits were created, as the Board of Advisors could vote at any monthly meeting to select a new Zone Governor. The belief was that those who excelledβdemonstrating knowledge and skillβwould have a deep understanding of their zoneβs needs and the wishes of its people, and they would develop the necessary leadership skills as they advanced through their respective organizations.
Sounds pretty solid, right? Utopia formed. The next question was, how long would it take for it to unravel?
Cracks formed
In an upcoming novella, I give a brief history of the United Pacific Territories and detail the rise of Julia Ryker, the UPTβs Grand Governor. Be sure to sign up HERE to receive notice of the novellaβs release!
The short answer for the unravelling is that by 2134, the Underground is preparing to strike back at the administration in power. In less than five decades, what was formed from the remnants of society is showing signs of brewing insurrection.
An honest admission
Additionally, I chose 2134 because it has the same days of the week as 2021, allowing me to keep track of everything in my head without needing to scroll very far on my phone calendar.
Sometimes, choices are made out of necessity and convenience.
What Iβm reading
The last week has been less than ideal from a reading standpoint. Iβve been editing the bonus material, which is set to be released as novellas in the coming weeks, attending book events, and hanging out with my parents. Needless to say, Iβm a bit behind on my Substack reading. However, here is what Iβve been consuming off the βStack.
Auroraβs End - I had a 7+ hour drive to get to my parentβs house, so I held onto my library checkout of
and Jay Kristoffβs third book in the Aurora Cycle series. I finished the story on the drive home. Let me tell you something: listening to an audiobook is the best way to survive a long drive. And this production of the novel is absolutely amazing! Multiple voice actors bring life to an already incredible story. I highly recommend this series.The Ring - Iβve been making my way through
βs second book in the Muldoon mystery series. I wish I had more time to devote to reading this story. Iβm about a third of the way through the novel, and Iβm intrigued by the paranormal aspects of what happens to unsuspecting young adults. Will Detective Muldoon solve this mystery before any more residents of Liverpool perish?
Also, I added to my TBR during a recent binge purchase session while being chauffeured by my mom. These books are all written by writers you can follow on Substack.
Dustborn -
Ivy & Ixos -
Oceanus -
New RIver Gorge(ous) -
(pre-ordered)
Before you go
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Upcoming Events & Happenings
Saturday, July 19, Bierly Brewing, McMinnville, Oregon - The first annual Mac Minicon.
and I will be panelists with two other Oregon local authors on building rich worlds and characters. Visit macminicon.org for more info.Saturday, August 9th, Third Street Books, McMinnville, Oregon - Iβll be the featured author at the indie bookstore, Third Street Books, in the historic downtown McMinnville during MacFresco. Visit with me and my publisher, Angela of
, from 2-6pm at 320 NE 3rd St in McMinnville.Bonus Materials! Sign up to receive companion novellas as soon as they become available. Jump inside the head of Isaiah Iverson. Find out what really happens during the Remote Thought Intervention sessions at Dr. Weaverβs office. And learn more about Julia Rykerβs rise to power and the foundations that created the Underground. Sign up HERE.
Yes, CB! Playing around with 'what if' in a future century is a lot of fun.
Thatβs a brilliant way of doing the calendar! I remember having to refer to a futuristic calendar for one of my novels. It was a pain!