Note to Book Author: It is best to wait for acceptance of your manuscript, before writing for permissions. Your publisher then will be able to give you the information to include in your request letter: title of your book, prospective date of publication, price, size of book, and number of copies in the first printing.
Note to Periodical Writers: When writing for periodicals, it us usually best to get these permissions before submitting your article.
Note to All Authors: Anytime your material is heavily dependent on a particular quotation, poem, or line from a song, you may want to ascertain whether you can get the required permission and if there is a reasonable charge, before you get too far into your project.