For me, aspects of the ritual change every night. It's usually a combination of some or all of:

- Making sure my Dream Journal and my EWLD book are beside my bed
- Drinking some Mugwort tea and placing it beside the bed
- Making sure my B6 is beside the bed
- iPhone ready with a few applications I use, earbuds in
- Repeating mantra as I drift off, affirming I will wake up after the first or second cycle.

But, I'm not lucid yet, so.. ya. Not an expert by any stretch of the imagination.

As for your WILD attempt, I hope you get some advice from a dream guide, but I expect it has to do with not having a suitable anchor to keep your consciousness from shutting down. Did you use any anchor methods, like counting or concentrating on your breath?