channel your inner girlscout

it's cold and rainy here so i am off to build a fire

Crumple up eight pieces of newspaper, and set directly under grate.
Place four sticks of fatwood kindling (a resin-y pinewood sold at most hardware stores) on top of the newspaper.
Lay down three pieces of firewood in an H formation, and light paper in a couple spots. (If you can find it, try kiln-dried firewood. It has a nice appearance and an ultradry texture, which makes it burn amazingly well.
Let fire blaze a bit, then put in a few more logs, creating a boxlike configuration.
As the fire burns down, add logs in twos.
Pat yourself on the back. Fire-building isn't just for dudes!