Run-A-Muck, a media startup co-founded by Condé Nast alum Pamela Drucker Mann, is making a bold move into the world of short stories, with an eye on adaptation. This move is part of the company's strategy to tap into the next big source of intellectual property for film, television, podcasts, and other multimedia projects. The startup's seven-month-old Substack publication, Drafting, is set to launch short stories with an ad-supported culture and fashion focus. This initiative comes as the company believes that short stories could be the next major source of IP, with plans to adapt successful works across multiple platforms.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the startup's approach to storytelling. Rather than starting with a medium and searching for an audience, Run-A-Muck begins with the story it wants to tell and then determines the format that best serves that story. This strategy allows for a more organic and creative process, where the story dictates the medium rather than the other way around. In my opinion, this approach is a refreshing change from the traditional media landscape, where content is often tailored to fit a specific platform rather than the other way around.
Several notable writers have already signed up to publish on the platform, including Cody Behan, the writer of the short story 'The Decorator,' which is set to be adapted for Netflix, and Brittani Nichols, the writer and director of Abbott Elementary. This move not only showcases the startup's commitment to quality content but also its ability to attract top talent. What many people don't realize is that Run-A-Muck's focus on short stories is not just about adaptation; some stories will simply remain in their original form, as not everything created is destined to become a television series or feature film.
Drafting, the Substack publication, attracts more than 50,000 monthly readers, with advertisers like Hermès, Moncler, and eBay. The publication's push into short stories is a strategic move to court a younger audience interested in culture. The first short story to publish on Drafting will be an 1,800-word piece based on Showtime's series 'The L Word,' written by Run-A-Muck co-founder Ilene Chaiken. This story not only showcases the startup's commitment to diverse and inclusive content but also its ability to leverage existing IP.
Run-A-Muck's recent $10 million seed funding round, led by Atreides Management, will be used to make staff hires and develop audience and intellectual property. Combined with a previous $6 million friends-and-family pre-seed round, the startup's valuation currently sits at $80 million. This funding will allow Run-A-Muck to expand its operations and further its vision of creating high-quality, adaptable content. From my perspective, this move is a strategic and forward-thinking approach to media, one that could shape the future of storytelling and adaptation.
In conclusion, Run-A-Muck's push into short stories is a bold and exciting move that could redefine the way we think about storytelling and adaptation. The startup's commitment to quality content, its innovative approach to storytelling, and its ability to attract top talent make it a force to be reckoned with in the media landscape. As we look to the future, it will be fascinating to see how Run-A-Muck continues to evolve and shape the world of short stories and adaptation. Personally, I think this is just the beginning of a new era in media, one that will be defined by creativity, innovation, and a deep commitment to storytelling.
