UK organisations The Script Factory and Skillset have announced the firstnine members of their new Writers' Circle initiative.

The scheme aims to helpparticipants segue from another writing arena to become screenwriters.

More than 500 peopleapplied, and the nine selected are: playwright/journalist Toby Young, authorMeg Rossof, playwright Moira Buffini, TV writer Rob Gittens,journalist/novelist Andrew Holmes, and novelists Lana Citron, Helen Cross,Alison Penton Harper and Donna Daley-Clarke.

Script Factory and Skillsetare modelling the scheme after Dorothy Parker's Vicious Circle or a BloomsburyGroup Salon. The year-long programme will include private dinners at the homesof film industry leaders such as director Mike Figgis. The nine participants willalso attend a series of events, workshops and networking meetings.

The Writers' Circle has an"inner circle" of three patrons: writers Richard Eyre, Deborah Moggach andRonan Bennett.