Need styling advice.
 

Take a look at http://www.writersbeat.com - I feel like I have to refactor the header. Can anyone give some opinions on how I can optimize the space? I feel like to much is being wasted. I really need to go for simplicity so if anyone can give their two cents it would be amazing. Thanks!

I suggest to decrease height of "front page" and "forums" buttons, and search box. Or maybe move "front page" and "forums" buttons to the rest of navigation below navbar.

What about the google search then?

reduce height, and right side should get smaller if you have it in same div or table cell as links above it.

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/2...ure1qm9.th.png

opinions, suggestions?

I think that looks much better :)

Do you think it would be advisable to remove the "lined" paper and just keep the jagged look w/ a white background?

No you musn't remove the lined paper, I forbid it! lol!It's a great look with the lined paper. From looking at I think the header would look ok if you moved the nav bar to the very top. Just my opinion though.

viewing in Firefox

- trim some of the empty space found on the logo
- reduce the contrast on the background image (make the lines less noticeable)
- the main nav wraps when viewing site @ 800 resolution