Do you ever find it hard explaining your writer to non-writers?

The main problem is when I say I am writing a novel, they ask if I had something published yet and after I tell them how long I wrote on it, they wonder why I have not sent it off. I get the feeling that they want me to send it out after the first draft. Another thing is that they wonder how I can get the characters, and think I have a good imagination. Well my imagination is just like everyone else;s. Also they forget that writing takes a lot of time and we really have to find the time to write out of a busy schedule.

I generally do not have problem explaining writing stuffs to friends and family, because most of them also like to read articles, newspapers, and used to write some articles as well. I bet they do not know the detailed process of writing or publishing, but at least they know the types of writing and publishing.