Writing is an act of discovery.
There are writers who plan it all out and always know what’s coming next. There’s writers who plan out a little, then let the characters change it up once in a while. Then there’s others who have only a slight idea of what they will be writing. All these different styles work, but there are times when you’re a planner that writing becomes an act of discovery. Another point to add is that writing isn’t just limited to novels. You could find a slow unfolding from journaling, or writing a business plan. You could be writing poetry or a letter to your long lost lover. There’s a million ways to write and there’s million ways that your writing can become an act of discovery.
Writing can only be an act of discovery if you’re writing.