Methods, systems, and devices for parallel drift cancellation are described. In some instances, during a first duration, a first voltage may be applied to a word line to threshold one or more memory cells included in a first subset of memory cells. During a second duration, a second voltage may be applied to the word line to write a first logic state to one or more memory cells included in the first subset and to threshold one or more memory cells included in a second subset of memory cells. During a third duration, a third voltage may be applied to the word line to write a second logic state to one or more memory cells included in the second subset of memory cells.