Starting a fire in the rain can be a challenge, but it can be done with a little persistance.

1. Collect enough dry or dryish wood for the size fire you want before you start building the fire. Even in wet weather, there's usually a lot of dry wood around. Look in tree hollows, under rock ledges, or under bushes. Standing deadwood (or a fallen log with branches and twigs sticking out) is especially good because the wood doesn't lie in wet ground. Look also inside old stumps for dry chunks you can use. If a twig or stick feels wet, break it in half to see if it snaps if it breaks with a nice firm crack, it's dry inside and will eventually burn.
2. Use a firestarter. If you didn't bring any, try pine needles, birch bark from downed wood, used pieces of your guidebook, lint from your pockets, or a candle stub. You can make dry wood by whittling a stick with your knife.
3. Once your fire is going, pile damp wood around it so it can dry out before you need to put it on fire.