I guess it sounds awkward to you because we say "I very much want" in English, but "I very want" is impossible?
Rest assured that я очень хочу is totally fine. Similarly, you can say очень ждать -- literally, "to very wait" -- as a translation for "to await eagerly" or "to very much look forward to." E.g., Я очень жду твоё письмо, "I can hardly wait to get your letter."
P.S. But я так хочу, "I so want...", is also fine.