If you would like to control the "look" of your site in terms of text layout and graphics, you will want to use a table to accomplish this.  It will probably be to your advantage to write the text first, then include graphics and link to external sites that reinforce your content.
 

Finally after all of this has been accomplished, you will want to draw a table that has the right number of columns and rows to provide a "container" for your content.
 

Some cells in the table can simply be placed in the document to maintain white space.  Sometimes a single pixel transparent .gif file is used in the table cell, and it's height and width properties are manipulated to obtain desired spacing.
 
 

Think creatively about the "look" that you want to create for your pages.  Magazines and other publications employ professionals whose sole job is to lay out documents.  You will need to practice to get the look that you want, but it is possible if you are willing to spend the time.