When writing, it's important to have a variety of synonyms for commonly used phrases such as "wanted to". Some other ways to express this idea include "desired to", "aimed to", "planned to", "intended to", "yearned to", "hoped to", "strived to", "wished to", "aspired to", "craved to", "longed to", "dreamed of", and "fancied to". By using different synonyms, you can add more dimension to your writing and avoid repetition. It also makes your writing sound more professional and diverse. Experiment with these synonyms and see which ones work best for your writing style.