Every single story I have worked on so far is apart of the same world, excluding Across the Skies and Seas.
A world is vast and time is seemingly endless. In that span, I can fit many stories of bravery, romance, betrayal, tragedy, and oh so much more.
Also, when I write them in mind, I also think of how much the PC can affect the grand scheme of things. Will they be the cause of a new world war? Will they be a leader in politics? How much influence will they have on the every day commoner.
Will a Noble in some far flung city-state fighting to protect (or control) their city have any repercussions on a mercenary troupe stationed in a neighboring country, or an adventurer’s group on another continent?
Just because two stories are set in the same world it does not mean that they have explicitly acknowledge the exact events that occurred in another story. Maybe one story has absolutely no effect on the other because of distance, difference in social classes (a thief stealing the local attraction at a town will not cause the Duke of another country to suddenly be outraged.)
Today, it is very easy for news to travel but even then the news can be convoluted and twisted before it reaches the general masses, can’t the same be said of stories in your own world? What if PC “A” in one story leads an exodus to save a group of people from cruelty but PC “B” in another story is instead told, like the rest of her peers by the Government that PC “A” led a bloody rebellion and is now wanted for treason.
You can have your other story be a few months later or even a few days later, the key event of the exodus but it is viewed in two different lights. PC “A” knows what happened and their story is canon, but PC “B” alongside the masses have been tricked, lied to, etc, by their Government or whatever driving force controls them, that PC “A” did no heroic thing such as saving people, but instead led a rebellion that caused many deaths.
So, purposeful misinformation can be a way to have a story so close in time and location and still acknowledge that both are canon and really happened but it should also be expressed in story as well.
Example:
You narrowly make it on time to the public square where at the center standing atop of a large mahogany structure, stands a man with a parchment in hand, looking imperiously down on the masses. The man scans the crowd and a large ding rings out from the tower clock signalling that it is now 3:00pm.
The man strides to the front of the stage and opens the parchment, reading aloud, “Loyal Citizens of Etrazon! Today is a day of grieving for we have suffered and lost many good souls. The scoundrel, formerly known as Baron A, incited a rebellion and attempted to overthrow the Royal Government, forcing and tricking the slave class into helping his ambitions. Fret not though, in due thanks to the Royal Guard, the rebellion was repelled, and now “A” has fled into the wilderness with his band of traitors. The Royal Government insists that all citizens avoid the wilderness and to report any suspicious behavior to the nearest constable! Thank you.”
As soon as the man sets the parchment down, the citizen’s clap, praising the Royal Government for their decisive action. The news is interesting, but ultimately does not concern you. Later today, you will be setting sail with Father to the new continent, away from the control of the Government and hopefully establish a new home.
The dialogue is a bit long but the point is that the original events in the first story done by PC “A” still happened, PC “B” is in a new story, that while it acknowledges that PC “A” was at the center of events in the previous story, the actual events are obscured, this time through political propaganda.