add release checklist

release_checklist.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+
+RELEASE CHECKLIST
+=================
+
+- update version to release version
+   - setup.py
+   - CHANGES.rst *(add release date)*
+   - docs/source/conf.py
+- commit version changes to git
+- tag last commit with version number
+   - ``git tag -a [version number]``
+- build distributions:
+   - ``python setup.py sdist``
+   - ``python setup.py bdist_wheel``
+- upload to pypi
+   - ``python setup.py register``
+   - ``python setup.py sdist upload``
+   - ``python setup.py bdist_wheel upload``
+- confirm README contents and such are properly rendered on PyPI.
+  If rendering is incorrect, test RST files with an RST parsing
+  program to test for bugs. (http://rst.ninjs.org/ will give error
+  messages)
+
+
+POST-RELEASE CHECKLIST
+======================
+
+- update version to development version
+   - setup.py
+   - CHANGES.rst
+   - docs/source/conf.py
+- commit version changes to git
+