In my big stove I start with a Duraflame log, some newspaper, and a bit of wood scraps.
Light it of and let it burn until you get a good simmer and then start adding coal. A couple of shovel fulls at a time until you’ve got a good coal fire.
Once it’s going don’t mess with it too much. I add three shovel full in the morning and shake it down at night and add three more shovel full.
It burns from early December through mid April.
I think thats the key . I have been over doing it. I started this one at 9 am with wood started adding coal at about 10:30
and may have over filled it .trying to let it burn down at the moment it is improving.Its just different I from how my wood brain is wired.