 Stead began writing First Light in 2002 , but had no experience prior to that . The first draft turned out confusing and unorganized . To help her , Stead met with Wendy Lamb , an editor Stead had met in a workshop a few years before . Lamb suggested that Stead meet with a " critique group " who would help read and revise the drafts Stead wrote . After Stead created a revised copy of the novel in 2005 , she sent it to Lamb again and a contract was drawn up . More revisions were made in order to make the new world created in the novel easier to understand . Stead found it hard " to maintain a sense of ' the whole ' . Over and over I mapped out the book out for myself using post @-@ its in a manila folder , trying to get a sense of where the tension went " . The novel took three years to complete . 
 Stead began writing First Light in 2002 , but had no experience prior to that . The first draft turned out confusing and unorganized . To help her , Stead met with Wendy Lamb , an editor Stead <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> met in a workshop a few years before . Lamb suggested that Stead meet with a " critique group " <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>who</mark></a>would help read and revise the drafts Stead wrote . After Stead created a revised copy of the novel in 2005 , she sent it to Lamb again and a contract was drawn up . More revisions <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> made in order to make the new world created in the novel easier to understand . Stead found it hard " to maintain a sense of ' the whole ' . Over and over I mapped out the book out for myself using post @-@ its in a manila folder , trying to get a sense of where the tension went " . The novel took three years to complete . 
Stead began writing First Light in 2002 , but had no experience prior to dat . The first draft turned out confusing and unorganized . To help her , Stead met witt Wendy Lamb , an editor Stead done met in a workshop a few years before . Lamb suggested tdatStead meet w/ a " critique group " would help read and revise the drafts Stead wrote . After Stead created a revised copy of da novel in 2005 , she sent it to Lamb again and a contract was drawn up . More revisions was made in order to make tdanew world created in thdaovel easier to understand . Stead found it hard " to maintain a sense of ' the whole ' . Over and over I mapped out the book out fa myself usin post @-@ its in a manila folder , tryna get a sense of where thedansion went " . The novel took three years to complete .