diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index c29af5e..1e2f35f 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -10,6 +10,17 @@ change from your editor into `main`.
 > [launchbound](https://github.com/vyncint/launchbound),
 > [reconverge](https://github.com/vyncint/reconverge). Learn it once.
 
+## Where to start
+
+- New here? The [`good first issue`](https://github.com/vyncint/termlens/labels/good%20first%20issue)
+  label collects work sized for a first patch: one file, no architecture
+  decisions.
+- Open a draft PR early — it is the cheapest way to confirm direction before
+  you write much.
+- Two things trip people up here: commits need `git commit -s` for the
+  [DCO](#5-developer-certificate-of-origin-dco), and snapshot updates are
+  reviewed with `cargo insta review`, never blind-accepted.
+
 ## 1. Dev setup
 
 ```sh
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1c52643..91d8676 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -347,7 +347,9 @@ Other agents take the same file — a Cursor rule, or a reference from
 ## Contributing
 
 Pull requests are welcome — [CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/vyncint/termlens/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) has the dev
-setup, the testing policy and the DCO sign-off. Three things to know before
+setup, the testing policy and the DCO sign-off, and
+[Where to start](https://github.com/vyncint/termlens/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#where-to-start)
+points at the `good first issue` label. Three things to know before
 starting: every change lands with tests; anything touching wait semantics
 must pass the 100-iteration [stress workflow](https://github.com/vyncint/termlens/blob/main/.github/workflows/stress.yml)
 on Linux, macOS and Windows; snapshot updates are reviewed diffs