diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 7bb115b9..bb034d1f 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ Changes will be added here periodically from the "Suggested changelog entry"
 block in pull request descriptions.
 
 
+IN DEVELOPMENT
+--------------
+
+Changes will be summarized here periodically.
+
+
 Version 2.11.0 (July 14, 2023)
 -----------------------------
 
diff --git a/docs/release.rst b/docs/release.rst
index 4950c3b8..4d390a07 100644
--- a/docs/release.rst
+++ b/docs/release.rst
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ If you don't have nox, you should either use ``pipx run nox`` instead, or use
             interface (very easy: start by clicking the link above).
     - ``git add`` and ``git commit``, ``git push``. **Ensure CI passes**. (If it
       fails due to a known flake issue, either ignore or restart CI.)
-- Add a release branch if this is a new minor version, or update the existing release branch if it is a patch version
+- Add a release branch if this is a new MINOR version, or update the existing release branch if it is a patch version
     - New branch: ``git checkout -b vX.Y``, ``git push -u origin vX.Y``
     - Update branch: ``git checkout vX.Y``, ``git merge <release branch>``, ``git push``
 - Update tags (optional; if you skip this, the GitHub release makes a
@@ -50,7 +50,9 @@ If you don't have nox, you should either use ``pipx run nox`` instead, or use
     - ``git push --tags``.
 - Update stable
     - ``git checkout stable``
-    - ``git merge master``
+    - ``git merge -X theirs vX.Y.Z``
+    - ``git diff vX.Y.Z``
+    - Carefully review and reconcile any diffs. There should be none.
     - ``git push``
 - Make a GitHub release (this shows up in the UI, sends new release
   notifications to users watching releases, and also uploads PyPI packages).
@@ -69,9 +71,10 @@ If you don't have nox, you should either use ``pipx run nox`` instead, or use
     - Make sure you are on master, not somewhere else: ``git checkout master``
     - Update version macros in ``include/pybind11/detail/common.h`` (set PATCH to
       ``0.dev1`` and increment MINOR).
-    - Update ``_version.py`` to match
+    - Update ``pybind11/_version.py`` to match
     - Run ``nox -s tests_packaging`` to ensure this was done correctly.
-    - Add a spot for in-development updates in ``docs/changelog.rst``.
+    - If the release was a new MINOR version, add a new `IN DEVELOPMENT`
+      section in ``docs/changelog.rst``.
     - ``git add``, ``git commit``, ``git push``
 
 If a version branch is updated, remember to set PATCH to ``1.dev1``.
diff --git a/include/pybind11/detail/common.h b/include/pybind11/detail/common.h
index 27c426db..61f4b3e0 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/detail/common.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/detail/common.h
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #define PYBIND11_VERSION_MAJOR 2
-#define PYBIND11_VERSION_MINOR 11
-#define PYBIND11_VERSION_PATCH 0
+#define PYBIND11_VERSION_MINOR 12
+#define PYBIND11_VERSION_PATCH 0.dev1
 
 // Similar to Python's convention: https://docs.python.org/3/c-api/apiabiversion.html
 // Additional convention: 0xD = dev
-#define PYBIND11_VERSION_HEX 0x020B0000
+#define PYBIND11_VERSION_HEX 0x020C00D1
 
 // Define some generic pybind11 helper macros for warning management.
 //
diff --git a/pybind11/_version.py b/pybind11/_version.py
index 1c310e0c..7934b7f7 100644
--- a/pybind11/_version.py
+++ b/pybind11/_version.py
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@ def _to_int(s: str) -> Union[int, str]:
         return s
 
 
-__version__ = "2.11.0"
+__version__ = "2.12.0.dev1"
 version_info = tuple(_to_int(s) for s in __version__.split("."))