MAR Literary Services

Effective Date: September 26, 2025
Last Updated: September 26, 2025

1. Introduction and Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to MAR Literary Services. These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of our websites and services. By accessing or using any of our websites or services, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

These Terms apply to:

• MAR Literary Services (https://marliteraryservices.com) – our main services website
• Maria’s Literary Corner (https://marliteraryservices.com/corner/) – our blog website
• The First Draft Club (https://marliteraryservices.com/first-draft-club/) – our membership website

All websites and services are owned and operated by MAR Literary Services, controlled by Maria Acosta Ramirez.

By using our websites and services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, as well as our Privacy Policy and Disclaimers.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use our websites or services.

2. Contact Information

MAR Literary Services
Maria Acosta Ramirez
2165 Nolte Rd Unit 1023
St. Cloud, FL 34772
USA

Phone: (407) 228-3029
General Contact: hello@marliteraryservices.com
Support: support@marliteraryservices.com
Services: services@marliteraryservices.com
Coaching: coaching@marliteraryservices.com

3. Eligibility and Account Registration

Age Requirements

Minimum Age: You must be at least 13 years old to use our websites and services, with the following conditions:

• Under 13: No person under 13 may use our websites, create an account, or submit any personal information.
• Ages 13-15: Persons aged 13-15 may use our services only with guardian permission, which requires a video call meeting between the guardian and MAR Literary Services.
• Ages 16+: Persons aged 16 and older may use our services with parental written permission.

Account Registration

Where account registration is required:

• You must provide accurate, current, and complete information
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account
• Account credentials are non-transferable and may not be shared

4. General Terms Applicable to All Websites

4.1 Intellectual Property Rights

All content on our websites, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, audio clips, digital downloads, and software, is the property of MAR Literary Services and is protected by United States and international copyright laws.

You may not:

• Reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, resell, or exploit any portion of our websites or services
• Use any content for commercial purposes without our express written permission
• Remove any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices
• Create derivative works from our content
• Use automated systems or software to extract data from our websites (scraping)

Limited License: We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use our websites and services for personal, non-commercial purposes in accordance with these Terms.

4.2 User Conduct

You agree not to:

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Infringe upon the rights of others
• Transmit any harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise objectionable material
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Interfere with or disrupt our websites or services
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of our websites or systems
• Use our services for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
• Engage in harassment, stalking, threatening behavior, or sexual advances toward MAR Literary Services or any member of our community
• Engage in extortion, blackmail, or any behavior that puts our safety or mental well-being in danger

Consequences: Violation of these conduct standards may result in immediate termination of services, account suspension or deletion, and potential legal action. We reserve the right to report illegal activity to appropriate authorities.

4.3 Third-Party Links and Services

Our websites may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for:

• The content, accuracy, or practices of third-party websites
• Any transactions between you and third-party providers
• The privacy practices of third-party websites

Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk. We recommend reviewing their terms and privacy policies.

4.4 Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

Service Disclaimer: Our services are provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We do not guarantee:

• Specific results or outcomes from our services
• Publication success, book sales, or writing career advancement
• Uninterrupted or error-free service
• That our services will meet your specific requirements

No Professional Advice: Content on our websites is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, financial, medical, or therapeutic advice.

Limitation of Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by law, MAR Literary Services and its owner shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising from:

• Your use or inability to use our services or websites
• Any errors, mistakes, or inaccuracies of content
• Unauthorized access to or alteration of your data
• Any other matter relating to our services

Maximum Liability: Our total liability to you for any claims arising from or related to our services is limited to the lesser of: (a) the amount you paid us for the specific service in question, or (b) $5,000 USD. We shall not be liable for any amount exceeding this cap, as we do not guarantee success of any kind.

Example: If you paid $3,000 for services, our maximum liability is $3,000. If you paid $10,000 for services, our maximum liability is capped at $5,000.

Service Voiding Circumstances: We reserve the right to void services and terminate relationships under the following circumstances:

• Harassment: Any form of harassment toward MAR Literary Services or community members
• Non-compliance: Requesting services but refusing to do the required work or put in effort while expecting results
• Unrealistic expectations: Maintaining expectations that cannot reasonably be accomplished
• Misconduct: As defined in Section 4.2 above

4.5 Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing our obligations due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• Acts of God, natural disasters, or extreme weather
• Pandemics, epidemics, or public health emergencies
• War, terrorism, or civil unrest
• Government actions, regulations, or orders
• Power failures, internet outages, or telecommunications failures
• Labor disputes or strikes

In the event of force majeure, services may be temporarily suspended without penalty, and we will make reasonable efforts to resume services as soon as practicable.

4.6 Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting with an updated “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of our websites and services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

For material changes, we will provide notice via email or prominent website notice when appropriate.

4.7 Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Florida, USA, specifically Osceola County, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Dispute Resolution: Any dispute arising from these Terms or our services shall be resolved through:

1. Good Faith Negotiation: First, we agree to attempt to resolve disputes through good faith negotiation
2. Mediation: If negotiation fails, disputes shall be submitted to mediation
3. Arbitration: If mediation is unsuccessful, disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in Osceola County, Florida

Class Action Waiver: You agree to resolve disputes on an individual basis only, and waive any right to participate in class action lawsuits or class-wide arbitration.

4.8 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

4.9 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Disclaimers, constitute the entire agreement between you and MAR Literary Services regarding your use of our websites and services.

5. Terms Specific to Main Services Website (marliteraryservices.com)

5.1 Services Offered

MAR Literary Services offers the following services:

• Life coaching for writers
• Alpha reading services for manuscripts
• Digital products (ebooks, guides, templates, workbooks, resources)
• Other writing-related professional services as described on our website

5.2 Service Delivery and Timelines

Digital Products:

• Digital products are delivered immediately upon payment confirmation
• Products are sent via email to the email address provided during the payment process
• Important: Verify your email address is correct. Products will not be sent to a different email address after purchase
• You are responsible for downloading and saving products upon receipt

Alpha Reading Services:

• Alpha reading timelines vary based on manuscript length, complexity, and quality
• Timeline is determined after an initial review of materials
• Estimated timelines range from a few days to one month
• We provide detailed, multi-perspective analysis and typically review materials 3-4 times before providing feedback
• A tentative timeline will be provided once we agree to work together and after the initial manuscript review

Coaching Services:

• Sessions are scheduled based on availability and client needs
• Scheduling requirements vary by client category (see Section 5.3)

5.3 Scheduling and Appointment Policies

Advance Scheduling Requirements:

Standard Clients: Must schedule coaching sessions 7 days in advance. Last-minute scheduling (less than 7 days) will not be accepted.

Priority Scheduling Categories (2 days advance notice):

• Parents/Guardians: Clients with children may request sessions with 2 days notice
• Caretakers: Those with caretaker duties may request sessions with 2 days notice
• First Responders: May request sessions with 2 days notice

Absolute Minimum: No appointment requests will be accepted with less than 48 hours notice, regardless of circumstances or client category.

Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy:

24-Hour Advance Cancellation:

• Cancellations made 24 hours or more in advance: Same-week rescheduling if available
• Client maintains good standing

Less Than 24-Hour Cancellation:

• Client must wait until the schedule reopens (may take days to weeks)
• Counts toward cancellation limits

Cancellation Limits:

• 3 consecutive cancellations: Client is placed on probation
• 5 consecutive cancellations: Service relationship is terminated

Last-Minute Rescheduling:

• 3 consecutive last-minute reschedules: Client is placed on probation
• 5 consecutive last-minute reschedules: Service relationship is terminated

No-Show Policy:

• 1 no-show: Client is placed on probation
• 3 no-shows: Service relationship is permanently terminated
• Important: If terminated for no-shows, future service requests will be denied

Daily Check-In Requirements (if applicable):

• 3 missed daily check-ins: Client is placed on probation
• 7 consecutive missed check-ins (one full week): Service relationship is terminated

5.4 Payment Terms

Accepted Payment Methods:

• PayPal
• Stripe (via Kit for digital products and memberships)

Payment Processing: We do not directly process or store payment information. All transactions are securely handled by PayPal or Stripe according to their privacy policies and PCI-DSS compliance standards.

Payment Due: Payment is due at the time of service booking or product purchase unless otherwise agreed in writing.

5.5 Refund Policy

Digital Products:

• No refunds once the product has been accessed or downloaded
• All digital product sales are final

Services (Coaching and Alpha Reading):

Refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis and are granted at our sole discretion.

Refund Request Timeline:

• Within 7 days of purchase: Refund requests must include a valid reason
  • Standard refund: 50% refund (because onboarding packages include digital resources clients retain)
  • Emergency/bereavement: 100% full refund
• 7-30 days after purchase: Refund requests require special circumstances and will be considered only in exceptional cases
  • Emergency or bereavement situations may qualify for consideration
• After 30 days: Refund requests will not be considered

Emergency/Bereavement Exception: Clients unable to continue services due to personal emergency or bereavement will receive full refunds regardless of when the request is made.

To Request a Refund: Contact us within the applicable timeframe at hello@marliteraryservices.com or support@marliteraryservices.com with details of your situation.

5.6 Client Intellectual Property Rights

Your Ownership: Clients retain full and complete ownership of all manuscripts, writing, and creative work submitted for alpha reading or discussed during coaching sessions.

No Ownership Transfer: MAR Literary Services does not claim any ownership, rights, or interest in your creative work, even if you implement our suggestions or make changes based on our feedback.

Use of Examples: Before using any anonymized examples from client work for marketing, teaching, or other purposes, we will:

• Request written permission from the client
• Provide the exact excerpts we wish to use
• Only use materials with explicit written consent

Testimonials:

• Permission to use testimonials is requested before we ask clients to provide them
• If you object to our use of a testimonial you provided, contact us and we will remove it immediately
• Testimonials should be freely given; we provide feedback forms after service completion for honest assessments

5.7 Confidentiality

All information shared during coaching sessions and manuscripts submitted for alpha reading are treated as confidential. We will not disclose your work or personal information to third parties, except:

• As required by law
• With your explicit written permission
• To service providers necessary for service delivery (subject to confidentiality obligations)

5.8 Service Termination

Client-Initiated Termination: You may terminate services at any time by providing written notice. Refunds, if applicable, will be handled according to our refund policy.

MAR Literary Services-Initiated Termination: We reserve the right to terminate service relationships under the following conditions:

Automatic Termination Triggers:

• 5 consecutive session cancellations
• 3 no-shows
• 5 consecutive last-minute reschedules
• 7 consecutive missed daily check-ins (if applicable)

Discretionary Termination: We may terminate services if:

• The client seeks someone to do the work for them rather than providing accountability and guidance
• The client demonstrates non-compliance (requesting services but refusing to put in required effort)
• The client maintains unrealistic or unachievable expectations
• The client engages in misconduct (harassment, threatening behavior, sexual advances, stalking, extortion, blackmail, or any behavior endangering our safety or well-being)

Misconduct and Legal Action: Misconduct that violates laws may result in criminal charges being filed against the client.

Effect of Termination: Upon termination, access to services ends immediately, and no refunds will be provided except as required by law or in cases of emergency/bereavement.

5.9 Service Clarification: What We Do and Do NOT Provide

To ensure clear expectations, it is important to understand the nature and scope of our services.

Life Coaching for Writers – What We Provide:

Our life coaching services focus on the personal and professional development of writers, including:

• Mindset work and overcoming mental/emotional blocks
• Goal setting and accountability
• Productivity strategies and time management
• Work-life balance for writers
• Career planning and strategy
• Motivation and maintaining creative momentum
• Overcoming perfectionism, fear, and self-doubt
• Building sustainable writing habits and routines
• Professional development and business aspects of writing

What We Do NOT Provide:

Life coaching for writers is not the same as writing coaching, book coaching, or editing services. We do not provide:

• Writing craft instruction – We do not teach plot structure, character development, pacing, dialogue, or other technical writing skills
• Book coaching – We do not provide developmental guidance on your manuscript’s structure, story arc, or narrative elements
• Editing services – We do not provide line editing, copyediting, developmental editing, or proofreading
• Manuscript critique – We do not analyze your writing style, prose quality, or technical execution (this is separate from alpha reading, which focuses on reader experience)
• Writing technique training – We do not teach “how to write” or provide instruction on craft elements
• Genre-specific expertise – We do not provide specialized knowledge about specific genres, markets, or publishing requirements

Alpha Reading vs. Editing:

Our alpha reading services provide reader feedback on how your manuscript is experienced by a reader. This is distinct from editing:

• Alpha reading focuses on reader experience, engagement, pacing, and overall story impact
• Alpha reading is subjective opinion, not technical analysis
• Alpha reading does not include line-level feedback, grammar correction, or craft instruction
• See Section 5.2 for complete alpha reading service details

If You Need:

• Writing craft coaching or instruction → Seek a writing coach or book coach
• Manuscript editing → Seek a professional editor (developmental, line, or copy editor)
• Technical writing feedback → Seek a critique partner, writing coach, or developmental editor
• Genre expertise → Seek a specialist in your genre or a book coach with that expertise

By engaging our services, you acknowledge that you understand the distinction between life coaching for writers and other writing-related professional services.

6. Terms Specific to Blog Website (marliteraryservices.com/corner)

6.1 Blog Content and Access

Content Access:

• Some blog posts are freely accessible to all visitors
• The majority of blog content requires a free membership account to view
• Members must sign in to access member-only content and post comments

6.2 Blog Membership (Free)

Creating an Account:

• Free blog membership is available to anyone meeting age requirements
• You must provide accurate information when creating an account
• One account per person
• Accounts may not be shared

Account Termination: We reserve the right to suspend or terminate free blog accounts for violation of these Terms, including prohibited behavior in comments.

6.3 Comments Policy

Who Can Comment: Only registered members with free or paid accounts may post comments on blog posts.

Comment Moderation:

• All comments are moderated before they appear on the blog
• Comments containing harmful, offensive, hateful, or discriminatory language will not be approved
• Civil disagreement with blog content is acceptable; personal attacks are not
• Comments must be relevant to the blog post topic

Prohibited Comment Behavior:

• Harassment, bullying, or personal attacks
• Hate speech, discrimination, or slurs
• Spam, advertising, or self-promotion
• Sharing others’ personal information
• Illegal content or activity
• Content that violates our community standards

Comment Removal: We reserve the right to remove any comment at any time, with or without notice, for any reason.

Your Responsibility: You are solely responsible for the content of your comments. By posting, you grant us the right to display your comment on our blog.

6.4 Content Sharing and Republication

Permitted Sharing:

• You may share links to our blog posts on social media and other platforms
• You may quote brief excerpts (under 100 words) with proper attribution and a link back to the original post

Prohibited Republication:

• No republishing our blog content on other websites, publications, or platforms without our express written permission
• No copying, reproducing, or distributing full articles or substantial portions of content
• No creating derivative works from our content

DMCA Compliance: If you believe content on our blog infringes your copyright, contact us immediately at hello@marliteraryservices.com.

6.5 Blog Content Disclaimer

Blog content is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute professional advice (legal, financial, medical, or therapeutic). See our Disclaimers page for complete information.

7. Terms Specific to Membership Website – The First Draft Club (marliteraryservices.com/first-draft-club)

7.1 Membership Overview

The First Draft Club (FDC) offers two membership tiers and one exclusive coaching client tier:

First Draft Explorers (Lower Tier – Paid):

• Weekly writing prompts
• Member discounts on all resources
• Quarterly one-on-one accountability call
• Access to 2 daily writing sprints per week
• Member-only community access

First Draft Champions (Higher Tier – Paid):

• Daily writing prompts
• Exclusive member pricing on all resources
• Monthly one-on-one accountability call
• Access to 7 daily writing sprints
• Member-only community access
• Enhanced accountability support

First Draft Insiders (Coaching Clients Only):

• Exclusive access for active coaching clients
• All benefits included in coaching plan
• Full First Draft Club access
• Member-only discounts
• Community accountability
• Dedicated draft progress tracking space
• Access to 7 daily writing sprints

7.2 Membership Pricing and Billing

Pricing Structure:

Tier	Monthly	Quarterly	Yearly
Explorer	$35	$99	$379
Champion	$65	$175	$625

First Draft Insiders: Pricing included in coaching packages (not sold separately)

Billing Cycles:

• Monthly: Billed every 30 days
• Quarterly: Billed every 3 months or 90 days
• Annual: Billed once per year or every 365 days

Payment Method: Membership fees are processed through Kit via Stripe.

7.3 Free Trial and Membership Start

7-Day Free Trial:

• Both Explorer and Champion tiers include a 7-day free trial
• Full membership access begins immediately upon starting the trial
• Credit card information required to start trial
• You may cancel during the trial period without charge

Membership Start Date:

• Membership and access begin immediately when you start your free trial
• After the 7-day trial, your chosen billing cycle begins automatically
• First payment is charged at the end of the trial period

7.4 Membership Payments and Grace Periods

Payment Processing:

• Membership fees are automatically charged according to your billing cycle
• Payment processed through Stripe via Kit

Failed Payment Policy:

• 10-Day Grace Period: If a payment fails, you have 10 days to update payment information
• During the grace period, membership access continues
• After 10 Days: If payment fails again or is not updated, membership is cancelled immediately
• No refunds for partial months/periods

Updating Payment Information: You can update payment information at any time through your account settings or by contacting support@marliteraryservices.com.

7.5 Membership Refund Policy

Trial Period: You may cancel during the 7-day trial without charge.

After Trial Period:

• Membership fees are non-refundable once the trial period ends
• No refunds for partial months, quarters, or years

Note: Once payment is processed after the trial, it is considered final and non-refundable according to our standard refund policy.

7.6 Membership Cancellation

How to Cancel:

• You may cancel your membership at any time through your account settings
• Or contact us at fdc@marliteraryservices.com or support@marliteraryservices.com

When Cancellation Takes Effect:

• Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period
• You retain access to paid membership features until the end of the paid period
• No refunds for the remaining time in your current billing cycle

Access After Cancellation:

• Continued Access: Daily writing sprints and membership community spaces
• Revoked Access: Downloadable resources, accountability calls, and premium member benefits

Reactivation: You may reactivate your membership at any time by subscribing again.

7.7 Membership Eligibility

• Must be 18 years or older to join The First Draft Club
• Must provide accurate registration information
• Membership is non-transferable and may not be shared
• One membership per person

7.8 Community Standards and Code of Conduct

Membership in The First Draft Club is a privilege, not a right. All members must abide by these community standards:

Required Conduct:

• Remain civil, respectful, and courteous
• Provide constructive, specific, and respectful feedback
• Balance critique with encouragement
• Respect privacy and confidentiality of other members

Prohibited Conduct:

• Harassment, bullying, stalking, or intimidation of any kind
• Hate speech, discrimination, slurs, or bigotry
• Personal attacks – attack the work, not the writer
• Real-world politics, religious debates, or ideological disputes (fictional politics from books/worldbuilding are permitted)
• Spam, self-promotion, or unsolicited advertising
• Sharing others’ personal information outside the group
• Screenshots, recordings, or redistribution of member content without consent
• Illegal content or activity
• Pornographic, excessively violent, or harmful material
• Content that violates hosting platform’s terms
• Excessive off-topic posting that dominates the community

Content Restrictions:

• Keep discussions primarily writing-focused
• Off-topic posting is allowed in moderation
• Maintain appropriate content standards

7.9 Member Content and Intellectual Property

Posting Your Work:

• Members may post snippets of work-in-progress (WIP) for feedback
• Members retain full ownership of all content they post
• Privacy Limitation: Posting in a shared space does not guarantee privacy. While we enforce privacy rules, we cannot guarantee other members will not share content outside the group.

By Posting Content, You Grant:

• Permission for other members to read and provide feedback on your work
• Permission for the content to be displayed in the membership space

You Retain: Full copyright and ownership of your creative work

Respecting Others’ Work:

• You must respect copyright and intellectual property laws
• Do not share or sell copyrighted works without the owner’s permission
• Do not share or sell other members’ work outside the membership space without consent
• Do not claim or sell other members’ copyrighted works as your own

Feedback and Discussions:

• Feedback, discussions, and shared drafts are private to the membership space
• Confidentiality is expected and required

7.10 Content Moderation and Removal

Moderator Rights: MAR Literary Services (the moderator) reserves the right to:

• Moderate, edit, or remove any member content
• Remove content that violates these Terms or community standards
• Remove offensive, harmful, illegal, or inappropriate content
• Make final decisions on content disputes

Your Responsibility: You are responsible for all content you post. We are not liable for member-generated content.

7.11 Suspension and Termination of Membership

Violation Consequences: Violation of these Terms or community standards may result in:

• Warning
• Temporary suspension
• Permanent termination without refund

Serious Violations: May result in immediate permanent ban without warning, including but not limited to:

• Harassment or threatening behavior
• Hate speech or discrimination
• Illegal activity
• Sharing private information
• Repeated violations after warnings

Moderator Discretion: The moderator has sole discretion in enforcement decisions. All decisions are final.

No Refunds: Membership fees are not refunded upon termination for violations.

7.12 Membership Disclaimers

No Guaranteed Results: The First Draft Club provides community, accountability, and feedback. However, we do not guarantee:

• Completion of drafts or writing projects
• Publication success
• Writing career advancement
• Specific outcomes or results

Member Disputes: The First Draft Club is not responsible for disputes between members. Members participate at their own risk.

Community Participation: Engagement in the community and adherence to feedback is voluntary. Results depend on your individual effort and commitment.

7.13 Amendments to Membership Terms

We may update membership-specific terms at any time. Members will be notified of changes via email or membership platform announcement. Continued participation after notification indicates acceptance of amended terms.

8. Termination of Access

We reserve the right to terminate or suspend your access to any or all of our websites and services immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including but not limited to:

• Breach of these Terms
• Violation of community standards
• Illegal activity
• Fraudulent behavior
• Non-payment
• At our sole discretion

Upon termination:

• Your right to use our websites and services ceases immediately
• We may delete your account and content
• We are not liable for any loss resulting from termination
• Provisions that by their nature should survive termination shall remain in effect

9. Privacy

Your use of our websites and services is also governed by our Privacy Policy. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand our data practices.

10. Contact for Terms & Conditions

If you have questions about these Terms & Conditions, please contact us:

MAR Literary Services
Maria Acosta Ramirez
2165 Nolte Rd Unit 1023
St. Cloud, FL 34772
USA

Email: hello@marliteraryservices.com
Phone: (407) 228-3029
Support: support@marliteraryservices.com

11. Acknowledgment

By using our websites and services, you acknowledge that:

1. You have read and understood these Terms & Conditions in their entirety
2. You agree to be bound by these Terms
3. You have read our Privacy Policy and Disclaimers
4. You meet the age requirements for the services you are using
5. You will comply with all applicable laws and these Terms
6. You understand that membership is a privilege that may be revoked for violations

Last Updated: September 26, 2025

Thank you for choosing MAR Literary Services. We look forward to supporting your writing journey!