How to Write a Novel

The problem with writing a novel is that for every hour you spend writing, you spend ten minutes of that staring at the computer screen thinking about how the whole thing is a pile of rubbish. Then I remember that most authors do not get the first book they write published. This makes me feel both better and worse. Better because it doesn't matter if this book is crap. It's my first, my practice novel. It's not going to be published anyways. I get more chances after this. Worse because then why the heck am I wasting my time? Shouldn't I just give up now and start on a better story concept? No, because then technically THAT one would then be my first novel, and it wouldn't get published either. I have to finish this one, if only for my decendants to read someday.
Also, it is always suggested that a wannabe writer should write and publish short stories before cranking out a novel. I have two problems with this. One, short stories and novels are two different art forms. It's the difference between being a sculptor and a painter, a furniture-maker or a house-builder. One does lend its talents to the other, but they are different on the most basic levels. Two, how does one find the time and organization to write short stories, research markets for them, write cover letters, print your story, take it to the post office and mail it to a magazine that's going to pay me $17.50 if they accept my story which they probably won't since it doesn't quite fit the "mood" of their magazine or even their word count. My stories always seem to be too dark, or not dark enough. Not that anyone there is even going to read it before sending me a form rejection letter. Why should they? I've never been published before so I can't be any good. All this is not even worth the ink and the postage. So I hack away at my novel, hoping it can lead to bigger and better things.