What Vardeman Knows About Building a Writing Career—Is This the Missing Piece?
- Robert E. Vardeman
- Mar 25
- 3 min read
What Vardeman Knows About Building a Writing Career—Is This the Missing Piece? Today’s guest writer, Robert E. Vardeman, is a prolific author with over 350 books published across a variety of genres. His extensive experience and unique perspective offer invaluable insights for writers looking to build a lasting career.
Take all this with a grain of salt (and not even that if you’re on a salt-free diet). I hope I can give newer writers something to think about that is all too easily ignored...and for good reason.
Writer & editor friend of mine, Al Sarrantonio, said he had a plaque on his desk that read:
Take the Deal.
This advice stuck with me. It is sage advice if you have a mortgage to pay, a family to support or a pet willing to bark or meow loudly and often if food isn’t forthcoming. If you’re offered a writing gig, take it.
That worked for me. I started writing fantasy in the mid 1970s, then was offered a shot at action/adventure (I did 9 Nick Carter Killmaster books) and when that petered out, was given the chance to write a series western. I’ve done over 200 westerns under a lot of pen names since then.
I’ve paid the mortgage, raised a son, and fed a lot of cats over the years, by taking Al’s advice. If a job was offered, I took it.
As a result I’ve published more than 350 books. And mostly no one knows my name, my “brand.” So here’s some advice for newer authors about how to approach a writing career.
Pick one genre and stick with it. The Siren’s lure of writing in many genres is great for me, and I was not strong enough to resist. As a result I haven’t established myself as THE name anywhere.
Romance? A great genre. #1 in sales. Enduring. Mysteries? The same but not quite as good in sales. But when it comes to fantasy or science fiction, as much as I love sf, consider choosing fantasy as your major focus. Hard sf is outdated before it can see print. The most enduring sf is character driven (think Ray Bradbury) but sales aren’t as strong in sf as they are in fantasy.
Side note: If you can write a tie-in book, Star Trek, Star Wars, gaming novelizations, do it. Take the deal. This will give you something to draw in readers who might be interested in your own sf. However, there is little carry-over for most authors from best selling tie-ins to their own work. You won’t be the brand. Star Trek or Star Wars or....will be. You want readers to think of *your* name as the brand and seek it out.
For a lasting career, create your own fantasy world.
It won’t be upstaged by new string theory discoveries or atomic clocks being obsolete because nuclear clocks are better (look it up. I did.) You can create an entire world according to your own ideas. Set the rules for magic or chivalry and they won’t change unless you change them. The stories can be action or character-driven.
But the setting is eternal.
The setting is yours and the real world cannot intrude.
You are the brand (unless you’re lucky to hit with Harry Potter or LotR or Wheel of Time. But such home runs are rare compared to the number of books published. Stephen King is the brand, JK Rowling is not.)
So, take the deal but only once or twice.
Build your own fantasy world, and as the author, be the brand readers seek out.
Robert E Vardeman (and 15 or so pen names)
Take the first step in building your author brand with this free downloadable workbook! This printable resource is filled with insightful questions to help you better understand your ideal reader—who they are, what they’re looking for, and why they’ll connect with your book. By working through these questions, you’ll gain a clearer picture of your audience, which will guide you in creating content and marketing strategies that truly resonate with them.
Print it out, reflect on your answers, and start building a deeper connection with your readers today! Start building your author brand!
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