Initially, I use to think merit is by chance ( i.e something that will just happen) or lengthy article ( i.e writing too many paragraphs and the rest of them), but I have come to realize that, it is more than that.
I have being discouraged several times because of my numerous posts and replies yet no merit then. Even now, some times I use to be discourage. However, the only way to get merit is by posting quality article ( that is what determines merit) which almost everybody is aware of now.
In summary, don't look at the quantity of post you have make so far but instead try to adjust, I mean improve in your posts, above all be consistent and patient that is the key.
However there are many replies that have given you the answers to your thoughts.
Receiving merits doesn't work with the lengths of your posting patterns, you can receive more than 1 merits from a good post that doesn't have much lengths ie just one line or two as long as what you are saying has meaning and impact to the Bitcoin space/community. Sometimes, if you have tried writing with this pattern and it's not given you merits the way you want just change it to a better way, you will get merits.