To write the scene, or not write the scene?

The back of your mind will tell you, so the fact you've asked the question is its own answer. Writing is not like maths, while you might adopt a formula there is no logic and therefore no formal sequence to how you place things on paper (or screen). In fact, in many cases, you'd need to write scenes and ideas down so as not to forget, and as you write them down you'll probably embroider, so you'll end up writing it anyway.

David, do what works for you.

I prefer to plan, because I strongly believe it saves time.

However, most would-be authors don't plan their novels.

Would-be authors rarely start at the beginning of their story, never at the end, usually somewhere in the middle.

Also, by the time they have finished the final draft of their novel, I'm willing to bet a large sum of money, that it will have evolved into something completely different to what they originally intended.

Amusing story on the subject of whether to plan or not.

Maxim Gorky was friends with Anton Chekhov.

During a discussion about literature, Gorky asked, 'Do you think I should plan for my next novel?'

Chekhov knew that Gorky was not a good planner. He replied, 'This is not a conversation about literature, it's a discussion about psychiatry.

'What do you mean?' asked Gorky.

Chekhov replied, 'An author who attempts to write a novel without a plan must be mad.'

I don't see why there are any rules about how we "should" write. I'm sure that many of the really great works of fiction stem from breaking the rules. And as Katherine Hepburn said: “If you obey all of the rules, you miss all of the fun.”

I'm not compelled to write. I envy people who say something like "I could just as easily NOT write as NOT breathe". I almost wish that writing were that necessary to me. But if something grabs hold of me and I want to write it down, why put it off because "I'm not at that stage yet"?