Nah, don't spread yourself thin checking every zone. You're dry because the game nerfs the drop rate in a zone every time you actually get an imprint there.
Fresh zones start at a 25% chance i think, but once you get an imprint, the starting odds for the next one in that same spot drop until they hit a low of 5%.
The pity system (the +1.5% boost per failed visit) stays locked to the zone you failed in. Fire runs won't help Wood. So if you repeatedly grind out fire the chance will rise again until you get to a drop chance that you get one. Its supposed to be a rather repetitive gameplay loop for minmaxing, its not vital to progression in the game. What you do is go to a wilderness level and look for an imprint, if it doesn't drop in the first 10 years then just grind out the relic or reincarnate.
I'd need a fact check on if each wilderness imprint is independent because im not sure if you can try for an imprint in other wilderness if you fail the rng drop for one.