Some Questions Involving WILDs

I have just recently gotten into Lucid dreaming, and I have been attempting to WILD the past few nights with no avail.

Exactly, how important is it to awake before a WILD? (using the WBTB method) My past few failed attempts have been before awaking fully. I sometimes have the tendency to be unable to sleep after waking, and I often worry that if I fully wake, I won't be able to sleep at all, much less WILD.

My past few attempted WILDs have ended with me giving up after about 30 minutes, tired and worried I won't be able to sleep at all.

I guess I have two questions: Should I fully awake before a WILD, and should I continue to persevere after 30 minutes of absolutely no success?

I understand that a WILD isn't easy, and I still intend to continue!

Thanks for the help!

From what I understand WBTB dramatically increases the success of WILD for most people. The only true success I had was after an accidental WBTB due to hunger. Most people say be awake for an hour and focus on dreaming, I was awake 15 minutes focused on a donut. Lol. Upon laying back down I noticed some hypnagogic imagery, so I decided to give it a shot and sure enough. However the very first time I got anywhere close to WILD was on an attempt at my first time going to bed for the night. I had no concept of time as I didn't move, open my eyes, anything. I counted. I counted to 1000 in all. Lot's of stuff happened in between, sleep paralysis etc. I was this close. When I got up I was shaking and startled to discover the whole ordeal took just shy of TWO HOURS. No I couldn't sleep for a while. Lastly, I'm not 100% sure but it sounds to me you are trying a wee bit too hard. Seems like you are making yourself anxious. Your goal is to keep your conscious self awake while the rest of you falls asleep, anxiety and sleep do not mix well for most. You aren't so much making a WILD happen as letting it happen. Too much focus and you are not likely to get to the deeper points. Too little and you fall asleep. It's a balancing act, one I am not proficient at. I've tried WILD many times, and succeeded once. Still there are many who are quite proficient, so keep trying, just maybe not so hard. Don't lay there worry whether you will sleep or not. This likely isn't conducive to a WILD and for me it would cause me to be awake all night as well. Hope I was helpful.