diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ab912bb..986c12f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -85,6 +85,12 @@ setup_logging(name="latest", rotate="daily")
 - Retention (tier counts / `backup_count`) is unchanged — it's just keyed to the project
   stem now.
 
+**One process per live file, one `history_name` per service.** Rotation and retention
+assume a single writer: two processes writing the same live file both try to roll it, and
+two services sharing a `log_dir` with the same history stem prune each other's history
+(each counts the other's rolls against its own `backup_count`). Give each process its own
+live file, and give services that share a cwd or `log_dir` distinct `history_name`s.
+
 ## Tiered retention (`keep_uncompressed` / `keep_compressed`)
 
 The default is a flat `backup_count`: every rolled file is gzipped on roll and the oldest