diff --git a/shepherd/config.py b/shepherd/config.py
index 0e43298..17cd6c1 100644
--- a/shepherd/config.py
+++ b/shepherd/config.py
@@ -142,7 +142,30 @@ class DictDef(_ConfigDefinition):
             except InvalidConfigError as e:
                 e.args = ("Key: " + key,) + e.args
                 raise
+    
+    def get_template(self, include_optional=False):
+        """
+        Return a config dict with the minimum structure required for this ConfigDefinition.
+        Default values will be included, though not all required fields will necessarily have
+        defaults that successfully validate.
 
+        Args:
+            include_optional: If set true, will include *all* config fields, not just the 
+                required ones
+        Returns:
+            Dict containing the structure that should be passed back in (with values) to comply
+                with this ConfigDefinition.
+        """
+        template = {}
+        for key, confdef in self.def_dict.items():
+            if confdef.optional and (not include_optional):
+                continue
+            
+            if hasattr(confdef,"get_template"):
+                template[key]=confdef.get_template(include_optional)
+            else: 
+                template[key]=confdef.default
+        return template
 
 
 class _ListDefMixin():
@@ -156,6 +179,12 @@ class _ListDefMixin():
                 e.args = ("List index: " + str(index),) + e.args
                 raise
 
+    def get_template(self, include_optional=False):
+        if hasattr(super(),"get_template"):
+            return [super().get_template(include_optional)]
+        else:
+            return [self.default]
+
 @freezedryable
 class BoolListDef(_ListDefMixin, BoolDef):
     pass