The Still Life Question

I have decided that I need to practice my still life shots for two reasons:

a) I'm working or travelling to work in the daylight hours most days, leaving me no time to go anywhere to take decent photographs
b) I'm no good at it, so should use the excuse that blip gives me to improve my skill

So how do you take a great still life?

Is it the subject? The composition? How do you light the subject? But more importantly how do I use the camera on manual to make a more interesting shot

It looks like I have a lot to learn to ensure those still life shots make for a punchy image, rather than bland and boring........hmmmmmmm.......looks like this challenge could be a struggle