The Long Cut
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EP. 118 May 21, 2026 39 min

The art of actually finishing

with Priya Raman, Novelist

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Show notes

Priya Raman wrote four novels before she published one. Not because the first four were bad — because finishing meant being judged, and 80% done feels safe.

A candid one about the gap between “perfectionism” and fear, and the structure she built to close it.

Things we get into

  • Why the last 20% feels ten times heavier than the first 80%
  • The deadline that was real enough to work
  • Shipping as a skill you practise, not a personality trait
  • What changed after the first one was finally out
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