Draft a request-for-permission letter to the copyright owner. Access the publisher's website to find its prescribed method for contacting the copyright owner. Some ask you to contact an permissions department rather than the work's author. The earlier this is sent, the better the chance that permission is granted on time. Explain why you want to cite the work and when you expect your book to be either completed or published. (This lessens the chance of a delayed response.) If your book will be available on the Internet, provide a link so the copyright owner can access it. State exactly which part of the text you wish to reference, providing a page number or Web link; this will help to prevent any problems regarding the copyright.
Include the date on which the source was copyrighted; this is usually available at the bottom of the publication-information page at the front of the book, where you will also see the publisher's name, address and publication date. Note the name of the publisher and the year that the book/article was published. When citing work from the Internet, the year of publication is typically available at the bottom of the Web page. To clarify this, contact the publisher; enter its name into an Internet search engine and you will likely find its contact information. Certain websites allow you to post free requests for publishers' information. Explain why you wish to cite its work; this will give the copyright owner more reason to let you use it.
Send two copies of the permissions letter; the copyright owner will usually want one for his or her records. Non-exclusive permission to cite the work may be granted via a telephone call or email, but to safely cite the text, a signed letter granting permission must be issued by the copyright owner. If use is granted, there may be a fee involved. The owner will send you his or her own permissions form, outlining fees and any limitations on the text that you can cite. Legal constraints may also apply; these usually include agreeing to abide by the law of the state in which the work was originally published.
If permission is denied, ask the owner why he or she chose to do so. You may be able to switch the part of the text that you wish to cite, which may help to change his or her mind. After permission is granted, keep a copy of all correspondence with the copyright owner; this will help to prevent problems if you are asked to provide proof of consent in the future.