Poetry often gets a bad rap for being too intellectual, academic or pedantic. (Yes, I said pedantic - as in tedious and fussy, like a toddler pageant updo. Real word divas, those poets.) I find the opposite to be true. My education in poetry has benefited my writing tenfold. I think it would serve anybody well to look at prose with the discerning eye of a poet.

Like poetry, the ability to say something in a few words that evoke a desired feeling or response is crucial in business, especially in the advertising and PR industries. Whether writing copy or sending an email, focus on the key message and how to convey the main point(s) most effectively.

A few things to consider:

• Often, it’s best to avoid filling a poem with unnecessary words. The same applies for prose. A common culprit is the word “that.” Yes, sometimes it is necessary. However, I challenge anybody to think twice about the usage of “that.” Enhance your prose. Don’t weaken it with unnecessary words. Chances are there is a better, more concise and creative way to say the same thing.

• Poems (some, not all forms) embrace varied line lengths. When writing prose, embrace varied sentence lengths. In a time of smart phones and tablet devices, the window of time to get through to an audience is small. A varied sentence structure holds the interest of the reader.

• While this diverts from my poetry spiel, it is worth a mention. Short sentences are great, but be wary of glaring fragments. There is a difference. Nothing is more confusing or glaring than an awkward sentence fragment. Don’t expect a reader to read through something twice for clarity.

Try using the above tips and marvel in wonder at how clear and concise your writing can be.

For poetic inspiration, I highly recommend any of the New York School poets.