Terms of Service
Last updated: May 2026
These terms govern all editorial feedback services provided by Dora Acosta at doraacosta.com. By submitting payment, you agree to the terms outlined below.
Scope of Work
I offer three tiers of editorial feedback for writers working in flash fiction, personal essays, creative nonfiction, and short literary fiction. Each tier is defined by word count and depth of feedback as follows:
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 pass from top to bottom — structural feedback, line-level edits, margin comments throughout, and revision suggestions. Delivered as an annotated Google Doc.
If you are unsure which tier is right for your piece, reach out before submitting. I will point you in the right direction before any payment is made.
Turnaround Times
Turnaround time begins on the date payment is received and confirmed — not the date of inquiry.
First Look: 7 business days
Close Read: 10 business days
Full Editorial: 14 business days
Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. If I anticipate a delay for any reason, I will notify you promptly.
Payment Policy
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.
What Feedback Includes
Depending on your tier, 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 piece
Line-level observations on prose clarity, word choice, and grammar
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 piece. 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
I do not offer feedback on novel-length manuscripts, academic writing, screenplays, or poetry collections
I do not guarantee publication, acceptance, 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.
Genres I Work With
I currently accept submissions in the following forms:
Flash fiction
Personal essays
Creative nonfiction
Lyric essays
Short literary fiction
If your piece 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 for any tier of editorial feedback, 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.