diff --git a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
index bc43f80a060..76bf94785f2 100644
--- a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -59,6 +59,16 @@ Follow these steps to backport a change into a release branch in compliance with
 5. Push to GitHub and open a backport pull request. Make sure to select the release branch (e.g. `release-20.09`) as the target branch of the pull request, and link to the pull request in which the original change was comitted to `master`. The pull request title should be the commit title with the release version as prefix, e.g. `[20.09]`.
 6. When the backport pull request is merged and you have the necessary privileges you can also replace the label `9.needs: port to stable` with `8.has: port to stable` on the original pull request. This way maintainers can keep track of missing backports easier.
 
+## Generating 21.11 Release Notes
+
+Documentation in nixpkgs is transitioning to a markdown-centric workflow. Release notes now require a translation step to convert from markdown to a compatible docbook document.
+
+Steps for updating 21.11 Release notes:
+
+1. Edit `nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2111.section.md` with the desired changes
+2. Run `./nixos/doc/manual/md-to-db.sh` to render `nixos/doc/manual/from_md/release-notes/rl-2111.section.xml`
+3. Include changes to `rl-2111.section.md` and `rl-2111.section.xml` in the same commit.
+
 ## Reviewing contributions
 
 See the nixpkgs manual for more details on how to [Review contributions](https://nixos.org/nixpkgs/manual/#chap-reviewing-contributions).
diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index 73783432037..027ac76df46 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -23,5 +23,8 @@ Reviewing guidelines: https://nixos.org/manual/nixpkgs/unstable/#chap-reviewing-
 - [ ] Tested via one or more NixOS test(s) if existing and applicable for the change (look inside [nixos/tests](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/nixos/tests))
 - [ ] Tested compilation of all pkgs that depend on this change using `nix-shell -p nixpkgs-review --run "nixpkgs-review wip"`
 - [ ] Tested execution of all binary files (usually in `./result/bin/`)
-- [ ] Added a release notes entry if the change is major or breaking
+- [21.11 Release Notes](./CONTRIBUTING.md#generating-2111-release-notes)
+  - [ ] (Package updates) Added a release notes entry if the change is major or breaking
+  - [ ] (Module updates) Added a release notes entry if the change is significant
+  - [ ] (Module addition) Added a release notes entry if adding a new NixOS module
 - [ ] Fits [CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md).