"More often, I'm writing tests and code essentially in parallel with each other (like, write a line of code, write a test, write a line of code, write a test). I suppose I could reverse them."
In order to do TDD, you have to do it the other way around, no backsies. The practice is very dogmatic about this. It's kinda tricky but all you have to do is write what you wish you had.
Huh. I intended that bit as a specific example of a non TDD approach, where you don't write tests first. So I'm not surprised that you identified it as a non-TDD approach, I'm just a little confused about why you thought I was presenting it as an example of a TDD approach.
In order to do TDD, you have to do it the other way around, no backsies. The practice is very dogmatic about this. It's kinda tricky but all you have to do is write what you wish you had.