[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