The classic tepee shaped fire works for me when camping. I put a pile of leaves or paper in the middle and stack kindling against it vertically, adding increasingly larger sticks until it's going well enough to add a log.

I also have a gallon-sized ziplock bag filled with cotton balls dipped in paraffin. I've been experimenting at home in the fireplace and have it so that a single cotton ball will light entire logs and have them blazing in 10-15 minutes.