diff --git a/contrib/prepare_release/helper.el b/contrib/prepare_release/helper.el
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aed68d91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contrib/prepare_release/helper.el
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+;; how to use this helper?
+;; 1. run "git log --reverse 2021-04-25..master > tmp.md" (2021-04-25 is example tag of previous version)
+;; 2. copy contents of template.md to the start of tmp.md
+;; 3. in emacs M-x load-file then choose helper.el
+
+(defun rssbridge-log--get-commit-block()
+  (interactive)
+  (search-backward "commit ") ;;  (move-beginning-of-line 1)
+  (set-mark-command nil)
+  (right-char)
+  (search-forward "commit ") ;; (move-end-of-line 1)
+  )
+
+(defun rssbridge-log--remove-until-commit-block-start()
+  (interactive)
+  (move-beginning-of-line 1)
+  (set-mark-command nil)
+  (search-backward "commit ")
+  (delete-region (region-beginning) (region-end))
+  )
+
+(defun rssbridge-log--cut-paste(arg)
+  (interactive)
+  (kill-whole-line 0)
+  (goto-line 0)
+  (search-forward arg)
+  (move-end-of-line 1)
+  (newline)
+  (yank)
+  (set-mark-command 1)
+  (search-forward "commit ")
+  )
+
+(defun rssbridge-log-copy-as-new()
+  (interactive)
+  (rssbridge-log--get-commit-block)
+  (replace-regexp ".*\\[\\(.*\\)\\].*\\((.*)\\)" "* \\1 () \\2" nil (region-beginning) (region-end))
+  (rssbridge-log--remove-until-commit-block-start)
+  (rssbridge-log--cut-paste "## New bridges")
+  )
+
+(defun rssbridge-log-copy-as-mod()
+  (interactive)
+  (rssbridge-log--get-commit-block)
+  (replace-regexp ".*\\[\\(.*\\)\\]" "* \\1:" nil (region-beginning) (region-end))
+  (rssbridge-log--remove-until-commit-block-start)
+  (rssbridge-log--cut-paste "## Modified bridges")
+  )
+
+(defun rssbridge-log-remove()
+  (interactive)
+  (rssbridge-log--get-commit-block)
+  (rssbridge-log--remove-until-commit-block-start)
+  (set-mark-command 1)
+  (search-forward "commit ")
+  )
+
+(defun rssbridge-log-copy-as-gen()
+  (interactive)
+  (rssbridge-log--get-commit-block)
+  (replace-regexp ".*\\[\\(.*\\)\\]" "* \\1:" nil (region-beginning) (region-end))
+  (rssbridge-log--remove-until-commit-block-start)
+  (rssbridge-log--cut-paste "## General")
+  )