diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release.yml
index 3316591a3c..c8285b5409 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release.yml
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 name: 📦 Release Issue
 description: Start a new self-hosted Sentry release
+title: Release YY.M.N
 body:
   - type: textarea
     attributes:
-      label: template
+      label: Body
+      description: "Edit YY.M.N in the title and three times in the first line of the body, then submit. 👍"
       value: |
-        [YY.M.N](https://github.com/getsentry/self-hosted/issues) | ***YY.M.N*** | [YY.M.N](https://github.com/getsentry/self-hosted/issues)
+        [previous YY.M.N](https://github.com/getsentry/self-hosted/issues) | ***YY.M.N*** | [next YY.M.N](https://github.com/getsentry/self-hosted/issues)
 
         - [ ] Release all components (_replace items with [publish repo issue links](https://github.com/getsentry/publish/issues)_).
           - [ ] [`develop`](https://github.com/getsentry/develop/actions/workflows/prepare-release.yml)
@@ -19,11 +21,13 @@ body:
           - [ ] [Prepare the `self-hosted` release](https://github.com/getsentry/self-hosted/actions/workflows/release.yml) (_replace with publish issue repo link_).
           - [ ] Check to make sure the new release branch in self-hosted includes the appropriate CalVer images.
           - [ ] Accept (publish) the release.
-          - [ ] Edit [release notes](https://github.com/getsentry/self-hosted/releases) as necessary.
+          - [ ] Edit [release notes](https://github.com/getsentry/self-hosted/releases).
         - [ ] Follow up.
-          - [ ] [Create the next release issue](https://github.com/getsentry/self-hosted/issues/new) (_replace with link_).
+          - [ ] [Create the next release issue](https://github.com/getsentry/self-hosted/issues/new?assignees=&labels=&projects=&template=release.yml) and link it from this one.
+            - _replace with link_
           - [ ] Update the [quarterly ticket](https://github.com/getsentry/team-ospo/issues).
           - [ ] Update the [release issue template](https://github.com/getsentry/self-hosted/blob/master/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release.yml).
-          - [ ] Create a PR to update relocation release tests to add the new version (_replace with link_).
+          - [ ] Create a PR to update relocation release tests to add the new version.
+            - _replace with link_
     validations:
       required: true