diff --git a/src/keyer.cpp b/src/keyer.cpp
index b4389dc..95477de 100644
--- a/src/keyer.cpp
+++ b/src/keyer.cpp
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ extern const uint LEFT_PADDLE_PIN;
 
 bool left_paddle_pressed()
 {
-    if (gpio_get(LEFT_PADDLE_PIN))
+    if (!gpio_get(LEFT_PADDLE_PIN))
     {
         return true;
     }
@@ -25,7 +25,20 @@ void Keyer::run()
         break;
     case State::LeftPaddlePressed:
         printf(".");
-        state = State::Wait;
+
+        if (left_paddle_pressed())
+            state = State::InterCharSpace;
+        else
+            state = State::Wait;
+        break;
+
+    case State::InterCharSpace:
+        printf("(.)");
+
+        if (left_paddle_pressed())
+            state = State::LeftPaddlePressed;
+        else
+            state = State::Wait;
         break;
 
     default:
diff --git a/src/keyer.h b/src/keyer.h
index 98b7c7f..43b7c2c 100644
--- a/src/keyer.h
+++ b/src/keyer.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ public:
     {
         Wait,
         LeftPaddlePressed,
+        InterCharSpace,
 
     };
 
@@ -15,6 +16,13 @@ public:
 
 private:
     State state{State::Wait};
+    uint8_t numElements{0};
 };
 
+inline uint64_t element_duration_us(uint8_t wpm)
+{
+    uint64_t duration = static_cast<uint64_t>(1.2 / static_cast<uint64_t>(wpm) * 1000 * 1000);
+    return duration;
+}
+
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pico_keyer.cpp b/src/pico_keyer.cpp
index d29cf40..3f0a4cb 100644
--- a/src/pico_keyer.cpp
+++ b/src/pico_keyer.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <inttypes.h>
 
 #include "pico/stdlib.h"
 
@@ -23,10 +24,10 @@ void setup()
     // Setup pins for left and right paddles
     gpio_init(LEFT_PADDLE_PIN);
     gpio_set_dir(LEFT_PADDLE_PIN, GPIO_IN);
-    gpio_pull_down(LEFT_PADDLE_PIN);
+    gpio_pull_up(LEFT_PADDLE_PIN);
     gpio_init(RIGHT_PADDLE_PIN);
     gpio_set_dir(RIGHT_PADDLE_PIN, GPIO_IN);
-    gpio_pull_down(RIGHT_PADDLE_PIN);
+    gpio_pull_up(RIGHT_PADDLE_PIN);
 }
 
 int main()
@@ -39,14 +40,15 @@ int main()
 
     Settings settings{read_settings()};
 
-    printf("Iambic mode (loaded): %d\n", static_cast<int>(settings.mode));
+    printf("\nIambic mode (loaded): %d\n", static_cast<int>(settings.mode));
     printf("WPM         (loaded): %d\n", settings.wpm);
+    printf("Element duration (u_sec): %" PRIu64 "\n", element_duration_us(settings.wpm));
 
     Keyer keyer;
 
     while (true)
     {
-        sleep_ms(1.2 * settings.wpm);
+        sleep_us(element_duration_us(settings.wpm));
         keyer.run();
     }