I have had times where I felt my sleep was just a total black out...no dreams at all.

Everyone is diffferent, obviously. For me, I am a vivid dreamer. But upon awakening, IF I don't lie still and think of them, I will lose them, much of them.

I have recently returned to dream journalling. I find this helps too. Along with the daily RCs.

All of my LD/oobs are spontaneous and I am trying to change that and take control of dreams and oob's etc.

Can you wake up without an alarm by chance? I trained my self at a very early age to never need an alarm...I detested waking up startled and rattled from a loud obnoxious noise (other than a sister/roommate and now husband letting one fly! ) geesh!

Anyway, if you can do this and become proficient, Then you can actually start Reminding yourself within your dream to "Remember this"
For me, I have actually had a part of my dream REPLAY when I have said, "ok, I want to remember this part." And too, I find more and more I am indeed trying to remember the sequence as the dream continues...all While I am asleep and dreaming. And when I awaken, things are easily remembered.
It is too a matter of discipline!

I know this is helping me climb those stairs to finally achieve regular lucidity. I do hit dry spells too, often when I AM trying too hard, it seems everything shuts down. So I back off and give it a few days, and sure enough, all activiy seems to return.

Anyway, hang in there and Don't give up! Be patient but be persistent too 8)

Keep us posted

"Hang Lucid"
ofp