It’s Summer!

Man lying in a beach chair reading
Man lying in a beach chair reading
Photograph, Nednapa Sopasuntorn -Shutterstock.

Remember how you felt the first day after school was over?

How the summer stretched out in front of you so impossibly long that it didn’t seem that you’d ever have to deal with September?

You were free. Free to do so many wonderful things.

Each year, even now, I feel like that.

In my house, my daughter Catherine has just graduated from high school. She worked long. She worked hard. It’s paid off — we’re thrilled that she’s heading off to Fordham University in the fall with an amazing scholarship.

And now the summer stretches out. I just feel the need to celebrate that, to glory in the feeling of free.

Then — summer plans. I LOVE summer plans. For me, it’s always a combination of things — summer reading, catching a few summer movies, maybe a doing a project that I want to do (not have to do).

First stop: Cat’s a counselor at a camp for children with seizures (Camp Spike ‘n Wave)– she can hardly wait to get back to the campers she bonded with last year.

Then we’re headed to Zambia with my sister on a family trip. We’re all so excited about this that the vaccinations didn’t even hurt. Much.

Once we’re back from the big trip, then our focus will be on getting ready for Cat to move to New York in the fall.

My summer project last year was taking the Masterclass with Aaron Sorkin. I write almost everyday, and while I don’t plan on writing screenplays for television or film, I firmly believe that learning from a great writer is something that benefits me. And I think it’s fun. Yes, I know. I’m a little odd — but I find learning new things entertaining.

Steve Martin in his Masterclass
I plan to spend part of my summer watching Steve Martin and doing homework in his Masterclass.

I had a wonderful time in Masterclass last year. I was impressed with how well the course was written: 35 lessons, each with a video of Sorkin talking, then assignments, and a interactive hub where students discussed and shared. I had a great time and learned a lot, and I particularly like that the class continues to be available to me. I’ve gone back and re-listened to some lessons several times.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about the Sorkin class, and it led me to my summer project this year: I’m taking class with Steve Martin.

I’ve just listened to the introduction for my Masterclass with Steve Martin. How I love this guy. This is going to be fun! The course is Steve Martin Teaches Comedy; and no, I don’t expect to become a standup comedian. But hey, if I end up as a guest  on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, you’ll know the course worked really, really well 🙂 .

Why am I taking a comedy class if I don’t plan to be a comedian? All of the things I said about taking class with Sorkin apply here. I write. And I believe that my ability to handle comedy within short stories and blog posts will improve by doing this work with Steve Martin. I’ve already found a group of students on the Masterclass student Hub talking about the same thing. Very fun to connect with fellow writers!

I’ll report back on how class with Steve Martin goes, and give you a full review my Master Class experience, along with my best take aways.

Gotta love my pre-class homework assignments: Watch Roxanne, Bowfinger, Father of the Bride, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels . . .

Which one would you choose first?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-egALWa3n9Q]

Steve Martin teaches Stephen Colbert all about comedy. Love these two goofballs!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n90rca0GbZM&w=420&h=236]

I think I’ve got my work cut out for me . . . I’ve just been reviewing Steve’s office hours — he’s doing video answers to students’ questions. Students submit a video asking a questions, and Martin records his replies. I’d better get with the program and do some real homework so that I can ask an intelligent question!

Here’s to a great summer for everyone!


Podcast of It’s Summer:


*** Masterclass has given me free access to Steve Martin Teaches Comedy. I have taken two courses with Masterclass previously that I paid for — both the class with Aaron Sorkin, and the course with James Patterson. I’ve loved my experiences, and I’m a big believer in the Masterclass courses. As I take the class with Steve Martin, I will write an honest review.

Ann Fisher

Writer, traveler, and cancer fighter. Get out there and live life!

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18 thoughts on “It’s Summer!

  1. It’s Summer – Podcast #1 – Ann Cavitt Fisher June 9, 2017 at 3:50 pm

    […] Podcast Version of post, It’s Summer […]

    Reply
  2. Mariza Lange June 4, 2017 at 7:23 pm

    How wonderful to have so many exciting things lying ahead for you this summer. I’d love to hear more about your trip to Zambia – I really enjoyed seeing Lusaka and of course, The Vic Falls (from the Zimbabwian side).

    Good luck with your course – Steve Martin sure is one funny guy!

    Reply
  3. Roslin Steeple June 4, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    You sure have some great plans ahead of you. Not surprisingly, summer is my favourite time too. Hope you have a beautiful sun-kissed summer.

    Reply
  4. Lisa June 4, 2017 at 12:36 pm

    Nice post, and I like the way you connect the class to your writing! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  5. Tim Goedeker June 4, 2017 at 8:18 am

    Beautiful!

    Reply
    1. Ann June 4, 2017 at 8:19 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  6. Samantha June 4, 2017 at 7:11 am

    Such a fantastic summer ahead ! I can’t believe it’s already June !

    Reply
    1. Ann June 4, 2017 at 7:18 am

      I think it will be a memorable summer — and no, it doesn’t seem like it could possibly already be June!

      Reply
  7. Julia Dent (@juliadentphoto) June 3, 2017 at 7:13 pm

    I had no idea that Steve Martin had a masterclass! It looks like it will be an awesome experience!

    Reply
    1. Ann June 3, 2017 at 7:19 pm

      It’s starting off well :-).

      Reply
  8. mycountryepoque June 3, 2017 at 6:03 pm

    I had a great read of your summer post. Congratulations to your daughter, you have the reason to be the happiest mommy on the planet. All the best to her and I hope you will all have a wonderful summer season. here is cool, with some breeze, the weather is fantastic. thank you for posting.

    Reply
    1. Ann June 3, 2017 at 7:38 pm

      Juli, thank you. I AM the happiest mommy on the planet. And I can’t quite believe she’s graduated. Here is getting sticky and warm — what Houston specializes in during the summer :-).

      Reply
      1. mycountryepoque June 3, 2017 at 9:05 pm

        I can believe you that you cannot believe she is all grown up. I felt that way too, last year my girl graduated from university, and I was overjoyed and proud of her. I couldn’t believe it. It was like only yesterday I was going up and down primary school, I did not watch the years go by, and it really passed me by so quickly haha! but here we are, those days are gone but memories are sweet!

        Reply
        1. Ann June 3, 2017 at 9:12 pm

          Life flies by. When we are younger, and our children are little, we don’t know how fast we really get here.

          Reply
          1. mycountryepoque June 3, 2017 at 9:14 pm

            is very true! hahaha, it life gets better and mature!

  9. fearlessinjesuschrist June 2, 2017 at 11:24 am

    Very cool! I look forward to your feedback from your class!

    Reply
    1. Ann June 2, 2017 at 11:38 am

      I started yesterday, and it’s great. I’ve only done the introduction to the course, and read through the class Workbook. The temptation is to binge watch Steve’s videos, but I know better than to do that. Have to exercise some discipline and treat it like a real class. I did pop over to his Office Hours page, and was amazed to see a series of student questions that Steve has already answered. I think it’s pretty extraordinary — the amount of his time students are getting for the $99 course.

      Anyway, I watched Dirty Rotten Scoundrels last night, a film I haven’t seen in YEARS. Still great. Today, I’m going to get into the Pre-class written homework.

      Reply
      1. fearlessinjesuschrist June 2, 2017 at 1:58 pm

        I can understand that temptation!

        Reply

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