Listen to lots of banjo music and decide what style you want to play. Try to learn by ear as much as possible -- don't get locked into books. In the beginning don't worry too much about the subtleties (yes, there are subtleties in banjo styles -- this is not an oxymoron!).

If you already like old time music, get hold of Mike Seeger's CD Southern Banjo Sounds, in which he plays 28 different instruments in 28 different styles (or perhaps sub-styles, within the old time style). If nothing else, you'll hear the different sounds the instrument is capable of and get some feel for the possibilities for your own sound. Don't let other people tell you "right" or "wrong" (although pay attention to "traditional" and "non-traditional"). If you listen to lots of traditional music, it'll come out in your playing.