Your two shots are nice (ZE21), but I would say that in the first one, the background is weak, and in the second one, the foreground is weak (and the lighthouse could stand to be closer). Clearly you have the idea that in a wide angle photo, there needs to be both foreground and background interest, so I think all that is really missing is to combine the two. A little more patience and perseverance, and scouting for location. You already seem to be experimenting with location for a dramatic perspective.
There are of course rules which can be broken, but I would say learn how to do it the traditional way first, and once you are strong, start breaking rules until you find your personal style.
I would also recommend that you spend a little time learning more about processing, possibly just sharpening and colour tweaking to start with. Finally, adding a subtle black or white frame gives a photo a lot more presence.
