Close to a WILD?

The past few nights I've had three different kinds of experiences that I think are close to being successful WILDs. I just want a little input from people who have a little experience WILDing because I'm guessing that these are common things people experience when WILDing.

First category: I would be passively daydreaming waiting for a dream to sneak up on me and then a random DC that I didn't put there would start talking to me. I would either be very startled that they were there and they would fade out, or I would realize they were there and they would just become daydream character.

The second two categories generally happened when I kind'a gave up after a several hour WILD attempt. I would try to fall asleep but my subconscious was so geared towards having a WILD that I was still fairly alert.

Second category: These were tangible experiences I can name two specific ones:
First: I was in a passive day dream state and I could physically feel my dream arms for about five seconds.
Second: I felt a rocking motion and let it continue. Eventually I floated off my bed and around my room. It hurt when I bumped into things so when I ended up at my bed again, I figured that I was fully connected to my dream body and I looked at my hands. Unfortunately, I did this in real life too which ended the experience.

Third category: These were just like dreams and I would be in them for about 30 seconds until my subconscious would alert me and I would realize that it was in a dream. Then they would fade out. The only odd thing about them is that they were not nearly as tangible as my previously mentioned experiences.

I haven't had an experience similar to the first one, so I'll skip it.

The second sounds like the beginings of HH. This means you were VERY close to a WILD.

The third could be either HH or perhaps you actually made it into a LD. I find that when I WILD the first little while of the LD will be very delicate feeling -- as if the dream hasn't fully formed yet. I won't have vivid sensations, sounds, or visuals yet, but I know I'm dreaming. I just have to stay calm and hang out and wait for the dream to finish forming before I can do much.

Sounds like good progress!

About the delicate dream phase. What is the best way to remain aware without fading the dream. My realization of dreaming always makes them go away.

There could be a lot of reasons your LDs fade quickly.

If you have a belief that your LDs will be short, then they will be. To understand this better read the Dream Control tutorial. It explains it better than I can! If you suspect this might be a factor, just change your belief. Instead believe (deep down) that your LDs will be long and stable.

If you get excited when you realize it is a dream instead try to stay calm. Excitement causes your heart rate to increase. When you are very close to awake this raised heart rate can be enough to wake you up. So stay calm and just look around. Notice details, sensations. Focus on how real the dream is (even if it isn't very vivid). When the dream is very vivid and you feel like you are securely asleep then move around. If you feel yourself starting to wake up, hold still and be calm. Notice the details again. After a few minutes the dream should be firmly established and you can do whatever you want (even get excited). Remember that physically, chemically a lucid dream is exactly the same as a regular dream. So physically and chemically there is no reason you should wake up or have unstable dreams.

Sometimes if you move your dream body too soon (before SP has set in fully) it can cause your physical body to move, too, which can wake you up. If you think this is what is happening, wait at least a minute before moving.

If you think there is a mental reason for you to have such short LDs you may want to try a stabilization technique, like rubbing your hands together (to create sensation you can focus on). Or you can use autosuggestion. Before bed tell yourself over and over that your LDs are stable and long lasting. Really believe it!

Hope this helps!