This is not Witcher 2 related, but I would love opinions on what I've done so far from those who are playing the Witcher 2:

Main Portal:
http://calasade.dreamwarestudio.com/

Book One:
http://catalysts.dreamwarestudio.com/

Catalysts is a novel in progress which I hope to eventually turn into a party-based CPRG. First come the books, then comes finding a developer (either that or I'll create the thing on my own using my own resources and company -- I'm a software engineer). However, I dream the developer will be CD Projekt! :)

Will check it out.

looks like a website made by a software engineer about a book written by a software engineer.

Hopefully, that means it looks professional. :)

I wouldn't say "professional"; I might give it "workmanlike" if it in fact all works, which I haven't verified.

From the main page, you have to navigate four non-obvious clicks and past two donation requests to get to any content at all, and when you do, you get an unstyled popup table of contents followed by an equally unstyled PDF.

Casual readers will give up before they get to the content. The more serious ones will give up somewhere around the end of the first page. The most intrepid will probably get sick somewhere in the middle of page 3.

You need to consider what market you are writing for, because not even the adult film business does rape fantasies. You also need some basic lessons in general English style and usage, in fiction writing, and in how to edit.

Good thoughts on the navigation. That's exactly the kind of feedback I wanted.

The story is very dark, very violent. As for basic lessons in English style and usage, fiction writing, etc...I've gotten more than nibbles from a few book publishers already, so I must be doing something right re my writing style. LOL

The editing suggestions that have been implemented were made by other authors and professional editors, so unless you're an established writer or edtior I'll have to overlook that one. ;)

That's exactly why it doesn't look at all like a site made by a software engineer. A software engineer worth his salt knows how to make a practical and effective site. I don't mean to be mean, but this site looks like it's designed by a teenager. I'm a software engineer who makes a living building websites, and if a customer wanted me to make something like this, I'd have a serious talk with him.

For one thing, don't have navigation jump all over the place. At the bottom is not the greatest place, but it can work. But when I click "rogues and lovers", I expect to be taken there, and not to the same donate button I just saw. And if I then click "content" I get a popup with the same navigation that's also at the bottom. It's getting me nowhere.

The overdose of big graphics doesn't do much for me either. I understand you're proud of that work, but is that really the main content you want to present? You're making it hard for me to reach the story, while swamping me in big images. Have an image on the front page, throw a few images at appropriate places in the story, if you like, and put the rest in an image gallery.

My suggestion is: put the navigation on the left side, put a single "donate" button at the top on the bottom of that left sidebar (or add a right side bar if you like), and when I click a chapter, show me that chapter in the middle.

Software engineer and web site designer are two very different things. The user interfaces I do typically are utilitarian not meant for public consumption (business apps mainly). Going from that to this is challenging enough, but an additional challenge lies in the fact that I'm trying to bring something visual to the reading. I've been considering implementing a Flash UI that bends more towards the artistic with more subtle, cohesive and interactive navigation. What you see is a first rev/template (except for the 3D characters, of course).

So far, you haven't brought anything visual to the reading, nor given any indication that you know how to do so. You have shown that you have the talent for UIs that the typical software engineer who is not paid to create UIs has; that is, none that will pass as professional.

If you are going to produce a Flash UI that is artistic and has subtle, cohesive, and interactive navigation. do so. What you have shown us does not convince anybody that you can or will do so, much less serve as a foundation for requests for donations that would in any way be deserved.

As for your writing, I do not believe your claims that you have the interest of a publisher or that your work has been professionally edited. I have edited too much bad writing to believe any of that.

Not to be rude, but I'm not out to convince you or anyone else of anything. I could frankly care less about what you do and don't believe. Your input as far as that goes doesn't interest me. That regarding the UI, however, does.

It took the better part of the day, but how's this:

http://catalysts.dreamwarestudio.com/mockup.html

So you're posting this here because...?

The website is pretty bad. From the scrolling updates field that doesn't use a scroll bar of all things (and the nonsensical contents therein) to the atrocious 3D models everywhere. The interminable search for some of your actual writing gave me exceedingly low expectations, and when I did find it, the writing even failed to meet those expectations. The description of that other guy as teacher/lover/tormentor (or whatever) started it for me. That is such an inelegant... well programmer-like why to stack up some goddamn nouns. I couldn't read past the first bit of hackneyed faux ye olde talk.

This.

Beginning a story with rape is working against yourself, because in the beginning the reader has no attachment to the characters. The action carries no weight. The idea of rape is bad, but until you have characters that have really had the opportunity to come alive it has about as much emotional sway as hearing about it on the evening news. That's not to say it's impossible, but you'll definitely need more eloquence in your descriptions.

I will say that I read until this part: "Wayward auburn bangs tickled her nose. She blew them away. Doing so seemed to steal what strength remained. Her eyes closed. Tiredness conquered. Purple and blue sparked her mind."

Short sentences like that can be used stylistically, of course, but have some restraint. At a certain point the stop-and-go is distracting to the reader and it comes across as amateurish. It should also be mentioned that the word "tiredness," while technically correct, is probably the least evocative word you could have possibly used given the circumstances.

Advertising something entirely unrelated to the forum you post it in makes it spam, so I marked your original post as such. Still, best of luck with your writing. Have a nice day :)

I posted to get feedback on the website, not the writing. For that, I have other sources. At any rate, the negative feedback has been immensely helpful (see the new mockup http://catalysts.dreamwarestudio.com/mockup.html). The previous/live version was done very quickly with little forethought.

Home should be on the left side of the tab.

That button is just there temporarily until the blog or forum (haven't decided which yet) is up.

The other content has been added, and the new design is in effect. Working on the logging feature (what was updated when) at the moment. Last thing to do except for the aformentioned blog or fourm (either will take a while).