diff --git a/RELEASING.md b/RELEASING.md
index 66bb7eb9b..dccc42efd 100644
--- a/RELEASING.md
+++ b/RELEASING.md
@@ -47,22 +47,21 @@ Always maintain changelogs in main branch (not in release branches).
   - format ([#ISSUE](https://github.com/simonmichael/hledger/issues/), AUTHOR) on its own line
 - commit: `./Shake changelogs -c`
 
-**At some point in the release cycle:**
-- add the next release heading, with date "unreleased", above last release heading:
-
+**After cherry-picking** changes to a release branch:
+- move the corresponding changelog items under a pending release heading,
+  creating that when necessary:
     ```
     # LATESTHASH
 
-    ...CHANGES...
+    ...CHANGES ONLY IN MASTER...
 
-    # NEXTVER unreleased  <- ADD
+    # NEXTVER unreleased
+
+    ...CHANGES CHERRYPICKED INTO RELEASE BRANCH...
 
     # LASTVER YYYY-MM-DD
     ```
 
-**After cherry-picking** changes to a release branch:
-- move the corresponding changelog items under the pending release heading.
-
 **At release:**
 
 - do final update/edits; check organisation, wording, formatting, issue links