It will never be "fair" if by that you mean rewarding effort instead of value. Subjectively evaluating and voting on value is at the core of this concept. If you find yourself consistently putting more effort in than the value you are awarded, then your approach still needs to be refined.

I've done the same of course, posts which I went to great effort to create have gotten cents back. To be honest I'm grateful for those cents, it's more than reddit ever gave me, and there is a lesson to be learned in why the posts did not take off.