[Baby Blessing]

Is your wood good and dry? I always roll a lot of newspaper up into a ball and then place kindling real small pieces of wood on top of the newspaper and then pour a little bit of the wood burning starter onto that and then get it going real good then add smaller piece of wood, after its going then add the larger logs. The reason the logs are smoldering could be that the wood isn't dry and also you need to get the coals going from the starter wood to get the other going good. That wood burning starter really ignites quickly so be very careful.After I once used it.....won't be without it By the way, do you happen to have an insert in your fireplace. We now use a wood stove and it is the same process as how we use to start in the fireplace.
Your kindling is so important, gotta have that.