Funny enough, I never really needed these tricks. Or I guess, I do have one? It's when I realize the events are scripted. I don't know why, but many of my dreams are perfectly sensical and linear, and sometimes I notice and hijack them. What I can do with them tho, depends on how close I am to waking up.
Saddest one was when I realized I was walking my dead dog. She was actually exhibiting behaviors I know she had been used to have, but not ones I had consciously remembered much when thinking about her after her death. I lingered on that one a bit. Still, dreams are dreams, and there was some weirdness, and I knew them for what they were. But that time, I did not fight the script.