Well done on the LD! And welcome to the forum, by the way.

Great job writing everything down in your journal, even though you couldn't remember the full dream. Just getting something down on paper will train your mind to remember more dreams so you can record them.

I also love the clock reality check. It's gotten me lucid so many times. I do it a little different, though, I compare a wall clock to my wristwatch. The times never match in my dreams so I become lucid instantly. But this is a good example of tweaking something so it works for you, which is what you've done. Keep up the good work!

Reading about LDing before bed is a great idea. Helps to get you in the "lucid frame of mind" so to speak. Since you like reading, I'd highly recommend picking up a copy of Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming by Stephen LaBerge. It's pretty much the bible of LDing - and is widely referred to on all LDing forums. A must-read for anyone interested in LDing.

So all in all, I'd say you're doing all the right things. Find something that works for you and go with it.