Hi there. This is a very cool community and I'm glad to be a part of it.

A little background on where I'm at:
Before coming here and lurking a bit I had had some lucid dreams in the past, but they were very random and always brief. It was a long time ago too.
I've been increasing my dream recall every night with a dream journal. thanks to this I can remember my dreams almost every night.

My first self induced lucid dream was a very cool experience, but it was quite brief.

Here's my problem:
I've managed to induce a lucid dream on about 6 occasions now, using different WBTB variations.
The problem is once I get there I have almost no control. I realize I'm dreaming, then I try to do something interesting and whatever it is just doesn't work.
I've tried to create characters, but they fade away. If I try to make someone do something it doesn't seem to work.

Last night I used some reality checks after a WBTB to get lucid. I remember thinking:
"Alright, I know I'm dreaming, now just don't get too excited and try stuff out."

I remember some suggestions that I should try to make a portal to get to other places, so I tried to open a hole in the wall. Nothing happened.
So I found a mirror and I decided to try to step through it.

I remember hearing that having confidence helps your control, so I psyched myself up a little by telling myself that I can do whatever I want. Then I puffed out my chest and stepped into the mirror. I just smacked right into it. It's pretty funny now, but at the time I was quite disappointed.

So what are some things I can do to start doing more than just walking around my house?