Awareness in Darkness of a Dream. Help please.

In a dream I jumped off of a building and fell through the ground and into darkness - slowing down, I had the sensation of settling at the bottom of this darkness in a sitting position. I stayed there for awhile completely aware I was asleep, but I couldn't produce any scene. This happens a lot when I try to LD, the scene fades and I'm just stuck in darkness trying to make, or let a scene unfold in front of me.

Any tips on how I can get around this?

Hmm...maybe next time upon jumping off of a building again, think of a new dream land you want as you fall. It's also vital to do reality checks every time you fall onto a new dream land to retain lucidity.

Sometimes I fall into darkness when I try to portal somewhere. My surroundings just dissolve into black, and I'm trapped in an empty dream world. When this happens, I look for a break in the darkness - absolutely anything. If you look for it, you'll find it. Look for a speck of light, a tear in the fabric of the dream.

Once you find it, focus. Call up all of the little details of what should be there. If you're trying to get to a particular place, focus on the texture of the door, for instance. Focus on being there, and suddenly, you'll find yourself snapped into a new dream.

Spoiler for Example:

I remember that I wanted to go to a bar to meet with a DC. I stretch a hand out in front of me and will the dream to dissolve. I close my eyes briefly, but when I open them, the green grass and concrete and sun are still there. Energy continues to swirl around me. I close my eyes again, and push through the dream-fabric.

When I open my eyes again, I can't see anything. Everything is dark, though coloured energy swirls through the space to break up the monotony. There seems to be a slight tear in the dream, so I move toward it (zooming closer, not walking). I drop to my knees and feel for the wooden door that I'm sure should be there. I imagine the texture, feel for iron handles of the closed door. I visualize the grain of the wood that should be there, the glass that is set into it.

A DC says something to me. He wasn't there a second ago. I open my eyes to find myself in the bar.