diff --git a/metaphor/common/base_config.py b/metaphor/common/base_config.py
index 00cf2428..b1c0a874 100644
--- a/metaphor/common/base_config.py
+++ b/metaphor/common/base_config.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional, Type, TypeVar
 
 import yaml
@@ -28,9 +29,27 @@ class BaseConfig:
     """
 
     output: OutputConfig
+    """
+    No default value here, otherwise dataclass inheritance would not work.
+
+    If this field is `None`, the connector will store the extracted data to
+    `PWD`/`timestamp`.
+
+    To disable storing data altogether, set this field to `OutputConfig()`.
+    """
 
     @classmethod
     def from_yaml_file(cls: Type[T], path: str) -> T:
         with open(path, encoding="utf8") as fin:
             obj = yaml.safe_load(fin.read())
+
+            # So that user can just ignore this field in their config file.
+            if "output" not in obj:
+                obj["output"] = {
+                    "file": {
+                        "directory": Path.cwd()
+                        .absolute()
+                        .as_posix()  # timestamp is added in file sink
+                    }
+                }
             return TypeAdapter(cls).validate_python(variable_substitution(obj))
diff --git a/metaphor/common/docs/output.md b/metaphor/common/docs/output.md
index 1a2c4498..eb2178ef 100644
--- a/metaphor/common/docs/output.md
+++ b/metaphor/common/docs/output.md
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ You can configure the connector to output to files or API.
 
 ## Output to Local Files
 
-File-based output is the preferred way as it enables decoupling between the connector and ingestion pipeline. Add the following fragment to your config file:
+File-based output is the preferred way as it enables decoupling between the connector and ingestion pipeline. By default, the connector will write to the directory `${pwd}/${CURRENT_TIMESTAMP}`.
+
+To write the extracted data to a specific location, add the following fragment to your config file:
 
 ```yaml
 output:
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index ccc08802..73a2c58d 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "metaphor-connectors"
-version = "0.13.110"
+version = "0.13.111"
 license = "Apache-2.0"
 description = "A collection of Python-based 'connectors' that extract metadata from various sources to ingest into the Metaphor app."
 authors = ["Metaphor <dev@metaphor.io>"]
diff --git a/tests/common/configs/missing.yml b/tests/common/configs/missing_output.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from tests/common/configs/missing.yml
rename to tests/common/configs/missing_output.yml
diff --git a/tests/common/test_config.py b/tests/common/test_config.py
index 631f268c..308348df 100644
--- a/tests/common/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/common/test_config.py
@@ -23,9 +23,11 @@ def test_yaml_config(test_root_dir):
     )
 
 
-def test_yaml_config_with_missing_config(test_root_dir):
-    with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
-        BaseConfig.from_yaml_file(f"{test_root_dir}/common/configs/missing.yml")
+def test_missing_output_config(test_root_dir):
+    missing_output = BaseConfig.from_yaml_file(
+        f"{test_root_dir}/common/configs/missing_output.yml"
+    )
+    assert missing_output.output.file and missing_output.output.file.directory
 
 
 @dataclass(config=ConnectorConfig)
@@ -36,7 +38,8 @@ class AnotherBaseConfig(BaseConfig):
 def test_yaml_config_with_extra_config(test_root_dir):
     # BaseConfig allows extras
     config = BaseConfig.from_yaml_file(f"{test_root_dir}/common/configs/extend.yml")
-    assert config == BaseConfig(output={})
+    assert config == BaseConfig(output=OutputConfig())
+    assert not config.output.file
 
     # AnotherBaseConfig does not allow extras
     with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
@@ -50,4 +53,4 @@ class ExtendConfig(BaseConfig):
 
 def test_extend_config(test_root_dir):
     config = ExtendConfig.from_yaml_file(f"{test_root_dir}/common/configs/extend.yml")
-    assert config == ExtendConfig(foo="bar", output={})
+    assert config == ExtendConfig(foo="bar", output=OutputConfig())