Hitting a Wall at 50K

If you're doubting the book because of things going on in life besides the writing -- stress, pressure, etc. are getting you down -- I'd say keep going. You may still have to revise substantially later, but there's no point in letting external considerations mess with your process.

If, on the other hand, you've legitimately seen a flaw in the plot and see a way to rework it, you may want to go ahead and begin revisions.

I had a similar experience on my second book. Although my plot essentially remained the same, the personality and motives of a significant antagonist changed dramatically once I got into the work. Although the antagonist's actions did not have to be altered, I realized that my main characters would have to have very different reactions in order for the story to make sense. I stopped (also around the 50K mark), went back and realigned everything, then got back on track.

Basically, if you really know what needs to be fixed, go fix it. If you're just unsure, I'd say keep going; even if you do have to edit later, sometimes perspective is better when you can see the book as a whole.

I hit that wall with every book. My solution is to leap forward and write the ending. That takes the pressure off of me somehow, because now I just need to fill in the blank. It doesn't matter if I have to eventually change or abandon that ending, just having an ending makes me feel more relaxed about being able to finish.

What Claudia said.

I always think of 50K as the magical point where it's all downhill from there as long as you are on steady terrain you should be fine.

Unless, of course, 50k is actually your target...

If there outside issues affecting your writing, then I think it's safe to say that you're doing well, and to push through.

However. I hit 50,000 (hell, it was probably 70,000), and I ran into all sorts of problems with the plot. I backtracked and realized there was just absolutely no reason for these characters to be doing what they were doing; they'd been forced together from the start. Hopefully this isn't your case, but if there are any scenes in the beginning you had a lot of trouble with, it may be worth a few minutes to go through and try to understand why.

I always hit the wall at 25K. When I press through that, I pick up speed again. Then I smack the dang wall again around 50-60K. Then I pick up speed again and can usually roll downhill to the end of the novel. Don't jump back and start revising. Press forward.

hell, just call your 50k point 'book1' and now start working on 'book2'

Keep going. Do you still have the outline to refer to? It sounds like you had a plan; don't give up on it now. Write those parts remaining that really excite you. It may be the inspiration you need.

God I'm a wimp. I'm hitting it already at a miserly 11k. Where's my stamina?

Popmuze, from what I can see you have already have a novel published. If you can write one and get it over the line, you can write a second one and get it over the line. I wish you the best of luck and I'm sure you'll do fine.

I'd be interested to know if it's a haven't-thought-it-through problem or a characters-won't do-this problem...

I blogged about this...
This is why it's CRITICAL to set your first draft aside for several weeks or longer and start another project IMHO...
Each time this happens to me at 20,000, 50,000 and then the size of my draft yo yo's several times.