diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 5a3d75ff8..c85175f29 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -66,8 +66,41 @@ repos:
     -   id: changelogs-rst
         name: changelog filenames
         language: fail
-        entry: 'changelog files must be named ####.(breaking|bugfix|deprecation|doc|feature|improvement|trivial|vendor).rst'
-        exclude: changelog/(\d+\.(breaking|bugfix|deprecation|doc|feature|improvement|trivial|vendor).rst|README.rst|_template.rst)
+        entry: >-
+          changelog files must be named
+          ####.(
+          breaking
+          | deprecation
+          | feature
+          | improvement
+          | bugfix
+          | vendor
+          | doc
+          | packaging
+          | contrib
+          | misc
+          )(.#)?(.rst)?
+        exclude: >-
+          (?x)
+          ^
+            changelog/(
+              \.gitignore
+              |\d+\.(
+                breaking
+                |deprecation
+                |feature
+                |improvement
+                |bugfix
+                |vendor
+                |doc
+                |packaging
+                |contrib
+                |misc
+              )(\.\d+)?(\.rst)?
+              |README\.rst
+              |_template\.rst
+            )
+          $
         files: ^changelog/
     -   id: py-deprecated
         name: py library is deprecated
diff --git a/changelog/README.rst b/changelog/README.rst
index 88956ef28..fdaa573d4 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 c850284f4..14f69bc34 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -423,9 +423,23 @@ 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]