There are thousands of composition tutorials written in books and published online and you will read about all the mechanical steps you can take to create the ultimate composed award winning photograph. From the rule of thirds to creating the eye wave of direction from one end to another, the formulas of composition will cause in you a creative disconnect from what you should create or would like to create.
The rule of thirds is the most overly stated command of composition and I think this is from blogging for clicks instead of blogging to truly assist people. Do not even think about the rule of thirds. Again, do not even think about the rule of thirds!!! It is a strict mechanical invention that just messes with your mind especially if you are photographing with a wide angle lens particularly in the range of 14-24mm. The wide angle lens itself violates the rule of thirds.
A wide angle lens expands the geometrical frame of your image, exaggerating your own line of normal vision especially in the foreground. You have to trust your own vision in looking through the view finder. Forget the viewfinder and always compose in live view which will give you a larger view of what you want to photograph and it forces you to take more time in composing your image. Focus your eyes around the frame of the live view. Make sure you are photographing every essential part of the image that prompted you to stop in the first place to photograph. Also you maybe have too much in view and that is where zoom lenses are very beneficial. You can zoom tighter or further out to enhance your vision of the subject matter. You would grow crazy trying to determine and mentally measure the rule of thirds in your image. Step back in your mind and ask yourself does what I am looking at in live view remind me of what attracted me to this scene in the first place. If you make that creative connection you are realizing the power of visualization. Focusing at that initial attraction and translating that attraction into an actual image to photograph would be your biggest step in composition and will be your guide in looking at all your photographic images.
Spend time examining your image you have just taken. Careful examination is necessary at this point. Magnify the image also. You are looking for any flaws in the image, technical and creative flaws. Find them now and you can retake the image. Find them later and then you are hit with regret. I screwed up! Don't rush. This extra time of critical viewing will expand the creative and technical qualities of your images immensely.
Translating the excitement of discovering this possible image to actually creating this excitement in your completed image is the secret to composition. This will be your composition and not the result of weak dumbass composition formulas which will only stun your creativity.