I have been on the hive blockchain for some time and one of the most exciting things for me here, asides from earning, is the curation work I do.
Currently, I work as A curator for two different communities/initiatives. My involvement with one of these initiatives is already in the public domain, but just a few people know about the work I do there for the other initiative.
I would have loved to keep the curation work I do private but someone had to let the cat out of the bag but that's fine, given that I do not curate/grade any post linked to people I know to avoid conflict of interest. So trying to pander to me for upvotes is a waste of time.
Being a curator gives me a deep sense of responsibility to/for the hive blockchain, and I feel a strong sense of belonging to the communities/initiative I work with, which is a potent way of building loyalty.
It is difficult building in any sphere where you feel like the outside man, this is why communities are important. There is a huge chance for tribal warfare in a diverse ecosystem like hive but the benefits outweigh the potential drawbacks.
MY OBSERVATIONS AS A CURATOR
One of my major observations from curating several posts daily is that many people do not put enough effort into creating their content. For instance, Mr.A wants to write on 'gratitude'. Rather than do some research on a topic that has been discussed extensively by numerous entities, he decides to pen down (poorly) any idea that comes to mind.
Many fail to realize that when discussing an idea that is not novel, it is quite easy to sound underwhelming. This is because the idea is already established over the years. The past route to follow is developing a unique narrative through the already established ones.
It is also quite unfortunate seeing this class of individuals who propagate redundant and generic ideas complain about being poorly rewarded weekly. These same individuals do not even make any deliberate effort to create exposure for their content, but for some strange reason, they think whales/curators should find their posts.
From my experience as a curator, I have learnt about the limitations of the system, people and myself. I try to navigate this imperfect space to the best of my ability. I certainly won't be able to please everyone, and won't try.
Also, being a critic has improved the quality of my content. I have learnt a ton of things by critiquing other people's work. For instance, I can tell you, for free, that the best way to lose anyone's interest is by coming up with boring titles for your post.
Write concise and interesting titles. Works like a charm.
The work of a curator is a difficult one. You have to read through tons of posts, many of which are generic and uninteresting. You have to develop an unnatural enthusiasm towards other people's ideas. This gives you a better appreciation for ideas that are poorly defined or structured.