This is an image I created and am thinking about using it to illustrate a story I'm writing. What do you guys think of it??

Well, ignoring the dithering which is a result of the smaller size... I like it.... the slight smile on the face is intrigueing, the colour usage has a subdued effect on the eye.... all in all.. a very lovely picture... Of course... a lot depemds on the passage it illustrates ne? ) CHeers Uthenea, Wizzard

Do you do any post work? If so, I would use it to add some wrinkles and folds to the dress at the elbows and shoulders. Personally, I would put on a long sleeve shirt to see what it actually does. Try the pose yourself while looking in the mirror. I'll bet you find that your balance is more over one leg than the other. It's all little stuff, the details, but it can add up to great improvement in the overall picture. -SMT

I'd rather stay in my lane than lay in my stain!

The dress flared at the bottom looks unreal. More length? Less flare? Also, it seems a bit too ... symmetrical. (Mea culpa too.) Dunno what the backdrop is (other than a backdrop) but if this is just a portrait image it doesn't matter. (Georgia O'Keefe?)

Has a nice mystical feel to it. She has an interesting face, I like the expression. What are you trying to achieve with the posing of the hands? As far as the dress goes, it was designed to drape onto the floor and it has been obviously shortened. That could be rememdied with post render work as well.

I agree that it looks a little too symetrical. I like the expression but it is a little too small to really see. Maybe you could have a close-up of her face "ghosted" behind her. Or maybe you could just do a medium shot of her from the knees up. This would help fill up some of the space on either side and make it a little less symetrical. I like your border.

I would do one of two things. Either crop her and enlarge her in the frame and move her over a touch or make it a more vertical peice and include the feet, also scooting her over a touch. Reasons for 1: Though the dress is nice it is rather plain on the lower half, no swing no billow no texture. The focus is on the face which gets rather lost. Enlarging, to maybe two hand widths below her fingers, will emphasize the face and look and therefore draw you in. Reasons for 2: Although the framework and stance are slightly mucha-esgue the square layout and the cropping of the feet pull away from the strong vertical that is inherant of the figure. It is sort of like the two are fighting against each other. Regardless nice start :)