Techniques For Retaining Lucidity Options

I havent had a lucid dream in about 4 months now but when I have one I keep having them. I started practiciing ways to maintain lucidity and hold the images I see in the dream.

One thing I know for sure is if I concentrate on a certain object for more than a few seconds the whole dream disintegrates or I fade back into unconscious dreaming. I heard of a technique in which you look at your hands and just as they start to disintegrate you shift your attention to another object and keep doing it. The more you do it the longer you can stare at a certain object before it starts to fade.

From just practicing this everytime I find myself in a lucid dream ive managed to hold my lucid dreams for what seems to be about 20 minutes sometimes. I havent attained the ability to manifest objects at will but when im lucid dreaming I can stop traffic, break walls with my fist, jump 50 feet into the air, and ive actually gained the ability to fly at will and sometimes move through solid objects such as walls (I find that the hardest to do, usually I get stuck inside the wall and wake up).

I could never fly up until one day I just started doing it by accident I found myself flying by holding onto a bin in the subway station. Now every time im in a lucid dream all I have to do is run and jump and I can fly.

Do any of you know any good techniques to maintain lucidity, prevent the scenery from fading, and increase your abilities while lucid dreaming?

Considering the principle requirement for a Lucid dream is a level of conscious awareness of being in a dream , here is a question for all. When you have a Lucid dream how do you know that you are dreaming? As I explained above for me it is the shedding of teeth and skin, but I am curious to know about your "tells" or "triggers". Also do any of you will yourselves into having a Lucid dream before going to bed? I was reading this article online and the author talks about how to cause a Lucid Dream... I've never tried this and was wondering if any of you have any experience doing so.