/lit/ - Literature

Respectfully requesting your advice -

I've decided to write my very first sci-fi story after years of writing and publishing literary fiction. Though I'm going to keep the story more literary and character-focused, the setting, mechanics, and futuristic concepts are all a new frontier for me. It's as exciting as it is humbling.

Given that I'm so unfamiliar with this genre, is there anything specific you think I should include, be wary of, or avoid in my story? In preparation, I'm reading through the latest Clarkesworld as well as watching a bunch of sci-fi films from the past twenty years, hoping to get a reading on where the genre's at and make sure my idea hasn't been played-out to death. Prior to this week, my sci-fi knowledge extended solely to Mass Effect and Firefly. I hadn't even seen Star Wars.

Any advice you can spare would be greatly appreciated.