Originally posted by Placebo
Lately, I get most of my wake induced lucid dreams out of SHILD (self hypnosis) ... not the dream induced form but rather a wake induced variation
Basically, I use the SH steps to go past all the hypnogogic imagery and distractions without losing lucidity. I find its not as difficult as eg. VILD wrt sleep, so perhaps its worth a shot.

The method I use takes some focus too, but is a little easier IMO (although it may take more than one attempt)
Click here for the method I use
(PS - apparently I'm wrong about the suggestions being in the first person... but it works for me)

Once I'm into that area of 'nothingness/black clear-headedness', I use a little technique that I think Seeker mentioned long ago
It involved imagining lying on a raft , in the ocean (eyes closed). Feel the waves, and the sensations. After you feel you're completely in tune with the sensations and environment, you 'allow' the raft to wash up on a beach, open your eyes, and take a look around

This works well for me, but the main difficulty I have found is that its imperative to go fairly deep before opening your eyes into the LD - otherwise you end up with what I call a 'thin' dream, where everything feels almost insubstantial, and close to waking up. Occasionally I can also feel my physical body a little - not such a good thing for the dream.

Just a thought - you'll find it also takes some focus, but seems better to me
I gave the SH a shot this afternoon using the method you described-- not before a nap or anything, just to see if I could do it. If nothing else, it was incredibly relaxing. Is this a one or two-time procedure until the suggestions set, something you need to refresh every week or two, or something you do every time you want to LD? Also, did you LD after the first time you did it or did it take a few tries? I think I'll try Damascus' suggestion of a short (5-10 min) WBTB tonight, and see if the suggestions took.