This is the same way Sandy's mother, Mrs Hadsell, made wild black berry pie when we were kids back in '47 or so. There are a few tips that help: Either go easy on maple syrup or skip it. If the berries are quite ripe, skip the syrup. You shouldn't need the liquid from the syrup if the berries are ripe. Also, don't be shy with the berries, she would often but in 5 or more cups. Sometimes Mrs Hadsell would put in almond extract or cocnut extract instead of the vanilla. She almost always added a few dabs of butter on top of the berries. The key is ripe and full sized blackberries. The rest takes care of itself.