I listen to a lot of radio comedy. It gives a good feel for dialogue and the art of comic timing but I also use it as a test. If I hear most of a programme, it means my scene or story needs a lot of work. If I hear some of a programme, my scene or story needs some work. If I have to replay the programme because I barely heard any of it, it’s a good sign. If I’m engrossed, hopefully readers will be too. But then when set homework at school I had to have something on in the background to help her, to use that awful Amercianism, “get in the zone”. Incidentally I don’t have anything against Amercianisms particularly but I do loathe that one.
Have a go at different writing tasks. It makes life interesting and gives you something to work on while your main idea is ticking over. And it may end up giving you another string to your bow. I say this as I’ve had a go at a humorous poem, The Cake Bake, which is now on the Shortbread Stories site. It was hard work, not normally something I’d do, but it was also fun. Stretching yourself is good for you!
Always write down ideas that occur to you as soon as you can. You will forget them otherwise. Flesh ideas out later. You never know where that might lead and it can be fun finding out! “Collect” ideas. Ideas need to be a renewable resource for writers. Think about how things you come across can fit in with what you’re doing. In my case and taking a rough example, if there was a political scandal here, could I write something similar affecting the Fairy Queen and her Council? What would the impact on her realm be?