Would the dialogue still feel distinct without dialogue tags?
Start here, then go back to the page and see what the manuscript gives you.MANUSCRIPT PROBLEM
Why do my characters sound the same?
Characters do not need different catchphrases to sound different. Voice can come from what each person notices, what they value, how they react under pressure, and the rhythm of their thinking.
BEFORE YOU CHANGE ANYTHING01 02 03 04 05
We would be careful about solving this with surface quirks. If the characters think and react in the same way, changing vocabulary will only put different clothes on the same voice.
FIVE QUESTIONS
What we would look for first
Do characters react differently to the same event?
Start here, then go back to the page and see what the manuscript gives you.Does each character have a recognizable worldview or priority?
Start here, then go back to the page and see what the manuscript gives you.Are differences consistent without becoming caricature?
Start here, then go back to the page and see what the manuscript gives you.Is the underlying characterization distinct before changing the prose?
Start here, then go back to the page and see what the manuscript gives you.WHERE A DEEPER READ HELPS
Stay with the reaction before deciding what to change.
We would look at the characters before I look at the word choices: what each person notices, wants, assumes, avoids, and how they respond to the same situation. Then the prose has something real to express.
A POSSIBLE NEXT STEP
Bring the question, not a diagnosis.
You do not need to arrive knowing which editorial service you need. If you want another pair of eyes on the actual manuscript, this is the route that fits the question above.
IF YOU ARE STILL NOT SURE
That is useful information too.
Sometimes the most honest starting point is simply, “Something isn't working and I cannot quite tell why.” You can start there.