Taking a step back: research

It's April 2011, it's been a while since I've blogged.
Initially I gave up on using this blog to help with the story, but I've changed my mind, as I'm on-line a lot more often now and feel it might help organise my thoughts.
Also I can edit various 'chapters' as I go along.

After coming up with the basic concept: someone wants to kill the devil I decided to do some research into how to write a novel. This lead me to various web sites and books which I am studying, things like MRU's and opening chapters etc.

I am also compiling a reading list so I can have a better idea of past and present fiction, including a standard A-level English type reading list and then current best sellers, and modern classics.

I am also reading books relevant to the genre I am attempting to write, so if I had to narrow it down I would say the modern day religious part is in line with the Bible Code/Davinci Code side of things, the mythology Jinn parts are in line with Clash of the Titans/Greek Mythology and then to adapt that to the modern world you have a Percy Jackson situation. The Jinn/Human love story has elements of Twilight - but I really don't want to copy that format of love story, although I really like the angle given to vampires attempting to be 'normal' people - because that's how my female jinn lead is.

I think all this research will take a while, and I'm in no rush.

In fact my overall time scale for completion of the story is about 4-5 years.
I think that's realistic, since I cannot comit to any serious amount of 'coal face' writing time at the moment with work/exams/other stuff. Until I get a nice routine after qualifying as a GP (hopefully Jul 2012) then I can try to factor in 1-2 hours a day or other regular writing.

What I haven't figured out yet is the 'flavour' of the book. Is it a teen romance movie smallville/twilight etc, is it a teen action mythology Percy Jackson movie, is it an epic Clash of the Titans 'serious' movie, is it dark and gloomy, does it take itself seriously, or is it tongue in cheek lighthearted? Is it Kick-Ass or Dark Knight? I simply cannot figure this out. Also note, that I keep saying 'movie' even though I'm trying to write a novel - but I can't get the idea of a screenplay out of my head - it's an automatic response where every scene or concept I have to try and visualise as a screenplay, with a soundtrack.

To the point where I'm actually virtually casting the characters and can't seem to write them until I know who they are going to be played by, because I cannot visualise them.