Hi, I'm Gay Merrill —
an instructional designer, writer, and humor-loving creative who believes the world needs more laughter.
At Merriment Studio, I design playful tools and experiences that help adults have more fun, stress less, and connect better.
How Merriment Studio Began
Years ago, during a milestone birthday celebration, a close friend gave me a psychic reading:
“Your purpose in life is to make people laugh.”
At the time, life felt pretty serious. I was working as a technical writer, raising my daughter as a single mom, and navigating a stressful season of life.
That prediction inspired me, and it’s stuck with me ever since.
Over the years, I explored humor through The Second City classes in improv, sketch writing, and stand-up comedy.
I’ve always been drawn to cartoons, caricature, and visual humor too.
Somewhere along the way, I wrote The Content Writer’s Guide to Humor, a playful guide to making writing more engaging, memorable, and human.
Eventually, Merriment Studio was born.
(Fun fact: a former coworker once nicknamed me “The Mistress of Merriment.”)
Why Humor Matters
Humor has an incredible ability to soften difficult moments. A well-timed laugh can diffuse tension faster than most self-help advice.
It also sparks connection. Shared laughter breaks down walls, eases awkwardness, and helps people feel more comfortable being themselves. (Even people trapped in painfully awkward small talk.)
And humor can shift perspective. It reminds us not to take life — or ourselves — quite so seriously.
Sometimes, a laugh can change the direction of an entire day.
Let’s Connect
Questions, ideas, collaborations, or stories involving awkward small talk?
You can reach me at:
chuckles@merrimentstudio.ca