diff --git a/changelog/README.rst b/changelog/README.rst
index 88956ef28d..fdaa573d42 100644
--- a/changelog/README.rst
+++ b/changelog/README.rst
@@ -20,10 +20,22 @@ Each file should be named like ``<ISSUE>.<TYPE>.rst``, where
 * ``deprecation``: feature deprecation.
 * ``breaking``: a change which may break existing suites, such as feature removal or behavior change.
 * ``vendor``: changes in packages vendored in pytest.
-* ``trivial``: fixing a small typo or internal change that might be noteworthy.
+* ``packaging``: notes for downstreams about unobvious side effects
+  and tooling. changes in the test invocation considerations and
+  runtime assumptions.
+* ``contrib``: stuff that affects the contributor experience. e.g.
+  Running tests, building the docs, setting up the development
+  environment.
+* ``misc``: changes that are hard to assign to any of the above
+  categories.
 
 So for example: ``123.feature.rst``, ``456.bugfix.rst``.
 
+.. tip::
+
+   See :file:`pyproject.toml` for all available categories
+   (``tool.towncrier.type``).
+
 If your PR fixes an issue, use that number here. If there is no issue,
 then after you submit the PR and get the PR number you can add a
 changelog using that instead.
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 3a748107fe..0ed5509608 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -414,9 +414,23 @@ name = "Improved documentation"
 showcontent = true
 
 [[tool.towncrier.type]]
-# Changes that might not even be worth exposing to the end users.
-directory = "trivial"
-name = "Trivial/internal changes"
+# Notes for downstreams about unobvious side effects and tooling. Changes
+# in the test invocation considerations and runtime assumptions.
+directory = "packaging"
+name = "Packaging updates and notes for downstreams"
+showcontent = true
+
+[[tool.towncrier.type]]
+# Stuff that affects the contributor experience. e.g. Running tests,
+# building the docs, setting up the development environment.
+directory = "contrib"
+name = "Contributor-facing changes"
+showcontent = true
+
+[[tool.towncrier.type]]
+# Changes that are hard to assign to any of the above categories.
+directory = "misc"
+name = "Miscellaneous internal changes"
 showcontent = true
 
 [tool.mypy]