stop trying to optimise curation returns and instead use your vote to reward the content you really enjoy and encourage the authors who create it

When I first started I tried to get curation rewards. I ended up discovering that there really isn't any money in it right now. And I was wasting valuable votes in exchange for a pittance. I changed my strategy in just the way you suggested, I rewarded the authors who made content I liked. I think this has gotten me further because I've actually built some community and rather than chasing that curation reward, I started having more fun!