Meet Teresa Bitler | Freelance writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Teresa Bitler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Teresa, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I’m primarily a travel writer although I do write about other topics. Because my job involves travel, it has been a challenge to have work life balance at times. When my kids were younger, I couldn’t travel as much. I also had to limit how much I worked so I could volunteer in the classroom and shuttle them to practices. As they got older, I traveled a little more, eventually working my way up to international travel when they entered high school. But I still try to keep things balanced. If I go on a trip for 10 days, I stay home for a few weeks before heading out again. I’ve watched too many people in this industry struggle to maintain relationships (some even end up getting divorced), and I think traveling too much, being away from home too often, is a factor.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always loved to write and planned a career as a journalist, but after I got pregnant, I stayed home with my daughters until the youngest started kindergarten. At that point, I wanted to get back into writing but didn’t want to go into an office every day. That’s when I discovered freelancing for print magazines. I got my start writing about real estate, then learned I could actually have a career as a travel writer. I have to be honest, it took a lot of work, a lot of pitching story ideas to editors and facing rejection after rejection. Still, I stuck with it. Over my career, I’ve written about other topics, too–finances, business software, blockchain–and I’ve found new interests like memoir writing and history. But travel writing remains my passion.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many amazing things to do in Phoenix. I think I’d start their visit with a hike In South Mountain Park, but if they didn’t feel like hiking, they could drive to the lookout in the park for views of the city. For the main activity, I’d take them to the Musical Instrument Museum. You can spend the entire day there, and the onsite restaurant serves a daily international dish. For dinner, I’d recommend some place in Old Town Scottsdale, maybe Citizen Public House. The next day, I’d suggest visiting, Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert home. If they wanted to explore more of Wright’s work in the Valley, I might take them on a drive that would include ASU’s Gammage Auditorium and the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. On day three, I’d take them downtown to see the Heard Museum and the Phoenix Art Museum. The two museums are within walking distance. From there, you can ride the light rail to Heritage Square for pizza at Pizzeria Bianco. It’s founder, Chris Bianco, is credited with starting the artisan pizza movement. For day four, I’d suggest a jeep tour in the Four Peaks area. It’s a great way to appreciate the Sonoran Desert. I’d follow that up with a day spent at the Desert Botanical Garden to learn about local flora and fauna, followed by a stop at the nearby Hall of Flame Museum and its collection of vintage firetrucks.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who deserve a shoutout individually, but if I have to pick out one, I’d give a shoutout to Travel Classics, a conference that connects travel writers to editors at major outlets. I have made so many contacts with other writers that have proved invaluable. I’d also give a shoutout to the Society of American Travel Writers.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teresa.bitler/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresabitler/

Twitter: https://x.com/TheAZTraveler

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teresa.bitler.7

Image Credits
My photos