diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index bd87e0d7..89ec2545 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,43 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ---
 
+## Release Process
+
+> Paste this prompt into a new Claude Code session, fill in the three placeholders, and send it to perform a release.
+
+```
+Release `{PROJECT}` to Maven Central.
+
+**Step 1 — Prepare the release (do immediately):**
+1. Read the current version from `pom.xml` on `main` — it will be `{VERSION}-SNAPSHOT`
+2. Strip `-SNAPSHOT` from `pom.xml` (→ `{VERSION}`)
+3. In `README.md`, update **both**:
+   - The release dependency example to `{VERSION}`
+   - The snapshot dependency example to `{VERSION}-SNAPSHOT` (it should already match, but verify)
+4. Commit both files directly to `main` (no pull request)
+
+**Step 2 — Wait for manual confirmation:**
+I will create the `v{VERSION}` tag and GitHub release manually — wait for me to confirm
+the release is published on Maven Central before proceeding.
+
+**Step 3 — Post-release snapshot bump (after my confirmation):**
+Bump **both** files on `main`:
+- `pom.xml` → `{NEXT_VERSION}-SNAPSHOT`
+- `README.md` snapshot dependency example → `{NEXT_VERSION}-SNAPSHOT`
+
+Commit both changes together directly to `main`.
+
+**Placeholders:**
+
+| Placeholder      | Value                                        |
+|------------------|----------------------------------------------|
+| `{PROJECT}`      | *(project name)*                             |
+| `{VERSION}`      | *(release version, e.g. `1.3.0`)*           |
+| `{NEXT_VERSION}` | *(next snapshot base, e.g. `1.3.1`)*        |
+```
+
+---
+
 ## [Unreleased]
 
 ### Added