Contact Maya

5 Responses to Contact Maya

1. Sean Arthur says:

   July 20, 2011 at 10:59 am

   Liked your very clear and insightful analysis of Rango’s structure. Prescreening before 5 year old grand daughter watches.

   Odd movie. So much effort into a very thin story line. As you observed. it was also quite daring, i’d say. at least not conventional. Lots and lots of references to classic American western films and similar ‘tropes’ .

   Your conflict engine idea i loved. reminded me of my own current problem. I am writing the third novel in a trilogy. first two are written. beginners gaff, I didn’t really plot out the series properly, and now I have a third act that is all over the place.

   And this is actually the metaphor.

   First novel, characters are driven together, like the processes that create addictive substances. This results in a single, dramatic event. Second novel is what happens after. Like when a drug is used, its components come apart with dramatic consequences. This drives the action, where character’s lives continue out of their control, to again other dramatic consequences. Characters literally disperse and their relationships start to fall apart. Third novel is like a huge denouement.

   It is the characters making new lives or failing to do that.

   But where is the action. Like ripples on a pond, the whole thing is aftermath with the energy dispersing and the characters becoming farther and farther apart. Or dead.

   It is sort of sad. The main character battles age, injury and depression. Other younger characters battle poverty and the compromise to personal values they have to face to get out of it, post addiction. Other characters just don’t make it.

   I am having trouble writing it not just because its sort of sad all the time, but because the plot is just got no ‘engine’

   HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

   anyway, keep going!

   Sorry to hear that your boy had such a difficult / painful accident.

   You’ll survive.

   Sean.
2. Sean Arthur says:

   July 20, 2011 at 11:02 am

   PS can’t email you from this computer i’m on. Only via this type of web form.
3. alex says:

   November 2, 2011 at 4:19 pm

   Hi Maya,

   Thanks for posting your experiences and knowlege on the web. I currently have 13 adult milk goats and about 20 offspring of various ages from them. I hand milk and am interested to make or buy a hand oerated milker. Do you know where I could buy one that can take a beating withought damaging my goats on the long run ? I am expanding my herd.

   I have a professional milking machine for 6 goats but I am reluctant to use it it just seems too much like a factory mechanical affair. I like the closer contact with the goats. Look forward to hearing from you.

   Have a great day !

   Alex
4. maya says:

   November 6, 2011 at 4:41 pm

   Hello Alex, so nice to meet you. The only millker I have any experience with is the one I mention in my “how to milk a goat” post, maggidans.com. I don’t know if it is durable enough for your needs. The thing that goes first is the spring in the handle, so you’d want spares on hand, but it’s a simple and useful device. I use mine daily. Good luck!
5. Bonnie Taylor says:

   November 9, 2011 at 5:30 am

   I enjoyed Carroll’s pictures and your early morning conversation with the kids. Have a good day.