Continuing the Novel

I just finished 7 more pages in my novel and have come to the conclusion that writing a novel takes more time than reading one. So far I have written 105 hand written pages for a total of about 25,000 words. It has taken me 2 years to get this far and it may take me 2 more to finish it. If an average novel is about 100,000 words (just guessing here), that means I am only a fourth of the way finished with it. If I set this one aside after I finish it and start the next one (that's what is recommended, so you can build on your mistakes from the first), it may take 6 more years before I get my first one published. Is this an unrealistic goal? Sometimes I wonder how other authors can whip out one right after another and make a living at writing.

I will continue to forge ahead with my plans and keep my friends updated on my progress. If I find that it is too overwhelming and decide to quit, you will be the first to know (after me, of course).