Ward did his undergraduate work at Towson State University in Baltimore before earning his MFA in writing at the University of Arkansas. After a stint teaching English at Hobart and William Smith College, he decided to try his hand at a writing career.

His first effort was the critically acclaimed novel Shedding Skin, which won the National Endowment of the Arts award for first novel of exceptional merit.

He has since written seven more novels, including Red Baker, which won the PEN West prize for Best Novel of 1985. His latest, Four Kinds of Rain, was published in Fall 2006 by St. Martin's Press.

Ward's other books include Grace (adapted as a TV movie for Carol Burnett, although never produced), Cattle Annie and Little Britches (adapted for film starring Burt Lancaster, Rod Steiger and Diane Lane), The Sandman, The King of Cards and The Cactus Garden.

After the publication of Red Baker, Ward was asked by David Milch to write a script for crime drama Hill Street Blues, then in its sixth season. Soon after that he joined the staff of that series.

In 1988 he became a co-executive producer and writer of Miami Vice. He later wrote for such shows as New York Undercover and The Division. He has also worked on several television movies and pilots.

In 2007 Ward appeared in the ESPN miniseries The Bronx is Burning, in which he recreated his infamous interview with New York Yankee's slugger Reggie Jackson.

Ward lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son.