Terms of Service

Last updated: September 2026

These terms govern all editorial feedback services provided by Dora Acosta at doraacosta.com. By submitting payment or a deposit, you agree to the terms outlined below.

Scope of Work

I offer editorial feedback in two categories: short work and manuscripts. Each service is defined by word count and feedback depth as follows.

Short Work

For writers working in flash fiction, personal essays, creative nonfiction, and short stories.

First Look: $50. For pieces up to 750 words. You'll receive a written feedback document covering overall structure, voice, pacing, and effect. What's working, what isn't landing yet, and what the piece is reaching for.

Close Read: $85. For pieces between 751 and 1,500 words. Includes everything in First Look, plus line-level notes on prose, word choice, and grammar. Delivered as an annotated Google Doc.

Full Editorial: $150. For pieces between 1,501 and 2,500 words. A thorough top-to-bottom pass: structural feedback, line-level edits, margin comments throughout, and revision suggestions. Delivered as an annotated Google Doc.

Story Edit: $150 for the first 2,500 words, plus $30 per additional 1,000 words. For short stories between 2,501 and 6,000 words. Structural feedback, line-level edits, margin comments throughout, and an editorial letter. Delivered as an annotated Google Doc or Word Doc.

Sample Edit: $35. The first 500 words of a short piece. A line edit with margin notes and a short editorial letter. If we continue working together, I'll assess the full piece and send a custom quote.

Manuscripts

For novels, novellas, and story collections. I take on a limited number of manuscript projects at a time.

Manuscript Sample: $150. The first 5,000 words of your manuscript plus a one-page synopsis. You'll receive a line edit with margin notes and an editorial letter on voice, structure, and where the book is heading. If you go on to book a Developmental Edit or Collection Review for the same manuscript [within 60 days of receiving your sample feedback], the $150 is credited toward that fee.

Short Story Collection Review: $30 per 1,000 words ($600 minimum). A read of the whole collection, with an editorial letter on the collection as a whole and margin comments on each story.

Developmental Edit: $30 per 1,000 words ($600 minimum). For novels and novellas in literary fiction, mystery, and thriller. A read of the full manuscript, with a detailed editorial letter and margin comments on structure, character, pacing, and voice. Includes one 45-minute follow-up call.

How manuscript fees are calculated. Manuscript fees are based on the word count of the file you submit. I will confirm your price in writing before you pay. If the final word count differs from the count I quoted by more than [10%], I may adjust the fee, and I will let you know before any additional payment is due.

If you are unsure which service is right for your work, reach out before submitting. I will point you in the right direction before you make any payment.

Turnaround Times

Turnaround time begins on the date payment (or the deposit, for manuscript projects) is received and confirmed, and, for manuscripts, on the date I have received your complete file. It does not begin on the date of inquiry.

Short work

• First Look: 7 business days

• Close Read: 10 business days

• Full Editorial: 14 business days

• Story Edit: 18 business days

• Sample Edit: 5 business days

Manuscripts

• Manuscript Sample: 14 business days

• Short Story Collection Review: 5 weeks

• Developmental Edit: 8 weeks, depending on length and my schedule

Because I take on a limited number of manuscript projects at a time, start dates depend on my schedule. I will confirm yours within 2 business days after I receive your deposit.

Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. If I anticipate a delay for any reason, I will notify you promptly.

Payment Policy

Short work (First Look through Story Edit and Sample Edit). Payment is due in full before work begins. Once payment is received, I will confirm your project within 2 business days and begin work from there.

Fees are non-refundable once feedback has been delivered. If you need to cancel before work has begun, please reach out within 24 hours of payment and a full refund will be issued.

I accept one clarification request per project. If something in the feedback is unclear, I am happy to explain my notes further. This does not constitute a second round of editing.

Manuscript projects (Manuscript Sample, Collection Review, Developmental Edit). A 50% deposit reserves your slot, and the balance is due before I deliver feedback. Once I receive your deposit, I will confirm your start date within 2 business days.

Deposits are refundable if you cancel within 24 hours of payment and before I have begun work. After that, the deposit is non-refundable. Fees are non-refundable once feedback has been delivered.

If you need to reschedule your start date, please tell me at least 7 days in advance. I will do my best to accommodate you, but a new start date depends on my schedule.

Follow-up calls. The 45-minute follow-up call included with a Developmental Edit must be scheduled within 30 days of delivery. Additional calls or rounds of feedback are quoted separately.

What Feedback Includes

Depending on the service, feedback may include any or all of the following:

• An honest assessment of overall structure and effect

• Notes on voice, pacing, and the emotional arc of the work

• For manuscripts, an editorial letter on structure, character, and the book as a whole

• For mystery and thriller, notes on tension, clue placement, red herrings, and the timing of reveals

• Line-level observations on prose clarity, word choice, and grammar (short work, Story Edit, Sample Edit, and Manuscript Sample)

• Margin comments pointing to specific moments in the text

• Suggestions for revision direction: not a rewrite, but a road map

Feedback is written specifically for your work. The goal is always to help you see your work more clearly so you can make your own informed revision decisions.

What Feedback Does Not Include

To be clear about the boundaries of this service:

• I do not rewrite your work or produce new prose on your behalf

• I do not provide a second full round of feedback after revisions are made unless a new submission and payment are submitted

• The Developmental Edit is big-picture feedback. It does not include line editing, copyediting, or proofreading of a full manuscript [confirm]

• I do not offer feedback on poetry, sci-fi, romance, fantasy, nonfiction books, screenplays, middle grade or younger, or academic writing

• I do not guarantee publication, acceptance, representation by an agent, or any specific outcome as a result of the feedback provided

Editorial feedback is a professional opinion informed by craft and experience. It is not a guarantee.

What I Work With

I currently accept submissions in the following forms:

• Flash fiction

• Personal essays

• Creative nonfiction and lyric essays

• Short stories

• Short story collections

• Novels and novellas in literary fiction, mystery, and thriller (Adult, New Adult, and YA)

If your work does not fall clearly into one of these categories, reach out before submitting and I will let you know whether it is a good fit.

Agreement

By submitting payment or a deposit for any editorial service, you confirm that you have read and agree to these Terms of Service in full. No signature is required. Payment constitutes agreement.

These terms may be updated periodically. The version in effect at the time of your payment applies to your project.

Questions

If you have questions about these terms before submitting, reach out through the contact page at doraacosta.com/contact. I would rather answer a question upfront than have anything be unclear after the fact.