[I apologize for odd quoting, but I dislike sending html emails]
"I do like the idea of developing a table of contents first and backfilling it, though.  I would amend the process, however, to avoid the WikiBloat that seems to inevitably follow when documentation projects get too open.  Instead of Wikifying it, I'd suggest instead that a "call for proposals" be put on the mailing list.  "I'm working on a chapter dealing with database programming.  I need to know how to do <insert whatever> in Haskell.  Could anybody interested in helping please submit some commented, functioning code for possible inclusion?"  Then the submissions could be made by email (and possibly even discussed on-list) and the editor/author of the book can take an executive decision and choose one if there are competing camps."

Instead of having someone work in solitude with occasional mailings back and forth on the list, I would rather have an open wiki for the collection of ideas from everyone.  Then, if you really wanted, a single person can use those to create an 'editor edition' page that is only editable by them.  Best of both worlds, or do you see it differently?

--
Joe Re