Methods, systems, and devices for operating a memory cell or memory cells are described. Cells of a memory array may be pre-written, which may include writing the cells to one state while a sense component is isolated from digit lines of the array. Read or write operations may be executed at the sense component while the sense component is isolated, and the cell may be de-isolated (e.g., connected to the digit lines) when write operations are completed. The techniques may include techniques accessing a memory cell of a memory array, isolating a sense amplifier from a digit line of the memory array based at least in part on the accessing of the cell, firing the sense amplifier, and pre-writing the memory cell of the memory array to a second data state while the sense amplifier is isolated. In some examples, the memory cell may include a ferroelectric memory cell.