I've actually solved the problem of delayed print statements. A problem I have now is printing both characters in a string if said string happens to contain two identical characters, like character 'a' in string "hardware". My program will print the first 'a' and will not move on to the next one if the user tries to guess it.
Console Output:
The secret word is: hardware
The word is: --------
Enter the number of spaces allowed: 8
Enter the letter you want to guess: h
Your guess is in the word!
The updated word is: h-------
Guesses Remaining: 20
Score for this round: 25
Total Score: 25
Enter the letter you want to guess: a
Your guess is in the word!
The updated word is: ha------
Guesses Remaining: 20
Score for this round: 25
Total Score: 50
Enter the letter you want to guess: r
Your guess is in the word!
The updated word is: har-----
Guesses Remaining: 20
Score for this round: 25
Total Score: 75
Enter the letter you want to guess: d
Your guess is in the word!
The updated word is: hard----
Guesses Remaining: 20
Score for this round: 25
Total Score: 100
Enter the letter you want to guess: w
Your guess is in the word!
The updated word is: hardw---
Guesses Remaining: 20
Score for this round: 25
Total Score: 125
Enter the letter you want to guess: a
Your guess is in the word!
The updated word is: hardw---
Guesses Remaining: 20
Score for this round: 25
Total Score: 150
Enter the letter you want to guess: a
Your guess is in the word!
The updated word is: hardw---
Guesses Remaining: 20
Score for this round: 25
Total Score: 175