For me, fires are mostly for beach picnics; I can't bring myself to build a fire in the woods because it leaves an eyesore for years. On the beach, driftwood is plentiful, and there's usually dry stuff above the high tide line. It's often hard to tell what kind of wood it is, so I always let it burn down to coals before cooking with them - less smoke that way. Adding a few hunks of wet alder can add a good flavor.

I usually lay two wrist-sized pieces about 6" apart so they channel the wind between them, then build the fire within.