@tillianisafox this is the distinction between plotter and pantser. you can do either extreme, or something in the middle, combining aspects from both.
either you invest the work in careful and elaborate planning,
or you invest it in fixing up the mess you just vomited into your document.
neither of these approaches is better. both can lead to a beautiful result and success, if success is something you care about.
they require different skills. planning is one skill. revising is another. so if you have the skill for writing, don't be surprised if the task of planning and/or the task of revising are a hurdle at first. it doesn't mean you did it wrong, it just means you need to figure out how to actually do it, it takes time and work to learn.
there is no getting around that work, and no getting around learning that skill, but you get to choose whichever process come more easily to you
@skye the thing is that planning everything out feels overwhelming and just diving in feels stressful because I am afraid of being cringe