diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index cfa09553..3aa1ee88 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -319,7 +319,8 @@ jobs:
           ver=$(cat version.txt)
           branch="post-release-$ver-reset"
 
-          # bump the minor version and re-add the '.dev0' suffix; prints the new version
+          # bump to the next minor version, with a '.devN' suffix where N is the
+          # patch number of the version just released; prints the new version
           next=$(python scripts/update_version.py --post-release)
 
           git config core.sharedRepository true
diff --git a/DEVELOPER.md b/DEVELOPER.md
index 3cd6208b..8ccc252a 100644
--- a/DEVELOPER.md
+++ b/DEVELOPER.md
@@ -127,7 +127,9 @@ Review the draft release and publish it. Publishing it triggers jobs that:
 
 1. build the package and upload it to [PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/modflow-devtools)
 2. open a follow-up pull request resetting `develop` from `main`, with the version number
-   incremented to the next development version (minor bumped, `.dev0` suffix)
+   incremented to the next development version: the next minor version, with a `.devN` suffix
+   where `N` is the patch number of the version just released (e.g. `1.9.2` → `1.10.0.dev2`,
+   `1.11.0` → `1.12.0.dev0`)
 
 Merge (do not squash) the reset pull request to finish the release.
 
diff --git a/scripts/update_version.py b/scripts/update_version.py
index c39b37ad..20735554 100644
--- a/scripts/update_version.py
+++ b/scripts/update_version.py
@@ -21,9 +21,15 @@ def release_version() -> Version:
 
 
 def post_release_version() -> Version:
-    """Development version for the next cycle: minor incremented, '.dev0' suffix."""
+    """Development version for the next cycle, following a release.
+
+    Targets the next anticipated minor version, with the development segment
+    set to the micro (patch) number of the version just released: e.g. after
+    1.9.2 comes 1.10.0.dev2, and after 1.11.0 comes 1.12.0.dev0. The counter
+    marks how many releases have been cut in the current minor version cycle.
+    """
     version = Version(_current_version.base_version)
-    return Version(f"{version.major}.{version.minor + 1}.0.dev0")
+    return Version(f"{version.major}.{version.minor + 1}.0.dev{version.micro}")
 
 
 def update_version_txt(version: Version):
@@ -107,8 +113,8 @@ def update_version(
         required=False,
         action="store_true",
         help=(
-            "Use the development version for the next cycle: the minor version "
-            "incremented, with a '.dev0' suffix"
+            "Use the development version for the next cycle: the next minor "
+            "version, with a development segment set to the released patch number"
         ),
     )
     parser.add_argument(