I'm not a beginner I think, but I remember how I've started with cards. I haven't read the Royal Road to Card Magic, because I have learned from Mark Wilson's complete course, but I suppose you have learned the basics (double lift, glide, ect.) from it. I advice You to practice them, and search for different variations of them. For example, as the double lift is one of the most used sleight in card magic, if all your double lifts were looking the same, even laymen would soon notice the ruse. If you have some flashy double lifts, and some more deceptive ones, it is better, than repetaing the same several times. Sit down, examine how would you turn over a single card, and try to make you double similar. The same with the glige and every other sleight. When you learn everything, you can move to more advanced stuff.
My (and I think every of ours) first color change was the Erdnase color change. My second one I think was the Cardini change (and it's variations, such as the Coffin and Ego change, ect.) If you know them all, you can go to the Internet. There are many original color changes on YouTube, and I think you can get them without tutorials. If not, at least you can come op some of your own ideas while trying to learn them. I think after the two listed above you should go for the Shapeshifter, and the Zoso change. They are very visual shanges, I live them.
Controls... Huh. There are so many controls out there, that you can probably find something that you like. But please... NO double undercuts! They are too obvious. If you want a deceptive cut control, just use the Table Cut control, or something. I suggest you a good control from Gilles Couture, which I have learned from the David Regal DVD-s (Premise, Power and Participation).
But still, I think cutting a card to the top/bottom is not the most deceptive way to control a card. The best is when they see you stick that card into the deck, and
leave it there, but actually you control it to the top/bottom. The best I think is the Orbit control by Chris Brown. I suggest you to learn it, it is easy, deceptive, and practical. My second suggestion is: learn the Classic Pass. At first I hated it, but now I just do it without thinking. it is a very powerful technique, and nobody should be afraid of it. Great source to learn it is the Jason England 1on1, and the sources listed on the end of it.
False shuffles... Hmm. I think if you want to leave the top or bottom stack on its place, you can come up with your own ideas. I think doing that with a jog shuffle ofr an in the hands riffle shuffle is basic. But leaving the whole deck in it's original condition is harder. My best suggestions are the Shuffled not Stirred sessions here on T11, and the False Shuffles DVD from Ben Salinas. Both are very useful, and they teach you a lot.
I think the One handed Popover is a very good little thing, and I suggest learning it both from the Paper engine, and the One Handed Popover DVD. About the Gravity Half pass I can't say very much. I haven't really understood the way to do it perfectly, but I am sure you won't be sad if you learn it.
The performance type depends on you. You choose what you want, if you want to be flashy, be flashy, if not, be classical.
One more thing about creating things. As I am more of a card magician, I can't really see something and think of an effect with it. My technique is thinking of the effect first, and then sit down, and try different methods, and maybe make a routine. If you want to create a move, well, sit down, grab a deck, and start messing around with it. I'm sure you will come up with a control, or color change, or even a false shuffle. The other way is to think of what you want to accomplish with a move, and then try to do it.
When you have a sleight or an effect, make a tutorial on it to yourself. It is interesting, but doing this I came up with several variations on the effect. Then you can choose the best, and perfect that one.
Sorry for the novel.
Dima
